DNA development to advance lab research

Three years ago when Harvard graduate student Tosan Omabegho decided to pursue a thesis for an autonomous DNA 'walker' - a motor mechanism that would carry things around in a cell - there was little scientific evidence to support that his theory would work.

But with the help of an NYU professor and a researcher, Omabegho's visions became a reality. NYU professor Ned Seeman and senior research associate Ruojie Sha worked in Seeman's laboratory where they built the synthetic apparatus. And their work paid off. Now, Seeman says, new windows of research have been opened.

'These capabilities all have impact on our ability to do chemistry that has not been done before,' Seeman said. 'We are hoping that this walker will enable us to do things like this to make new materials and chemical assembly lines.'

Previous walkers required much more attention and manual labor, and none of them could move autonomously. In order to maneuver one foot from one location to another, an extra strand of DNA had to be inserted. These walkers also didn't always move their legs in sync and therefore had trouble sustaining their balance.

The new 'walker' resolves these problems. Once set up and triggered, it is able to move along the DNA like a train track without any physical assistance. Fuel strands attach to the DNA and assist the motion of the walker's legs along the track; by causing DNA bases to pair up, the system creates the energy it needs to move its legs and keep running.

CAS junior Michael Leibfried said he considers himself fortunate to be studying pre-med at NYU, so he can work within the laboratories that foster this kind of scientific progress.

'I'm excited to be in a program in which NYU has such great technology,' Leibfried said. 'I believe that the technology will continue to improve and have lasting impacts.'

Other students, like CAS sophomore Kaitlin Murphy, simply envisaged the potential long-term scientific benefits of the walker's conception.

'Inventions like this are usually not final destination for scientists,' Murphy said. 'I think that, instead, they are simply launch pads for more discoveries.'

Lisa Totino is a staff writer. E-mail her at university@nyunews.com.