Nadrian C. Seeman Margaret and Herman Sokol Professor of Chemistry B.S. University of Chicago; Ph.D. University of Pittsburgh; Postdoctoral research at Columbia University and MIT Email: ned.seeman@nyu.edu Lab Homepage:  http://seemanlab4.chem.nyu.edu/

Areas of Research/Interest: DNA Nanotechnology, Macromolecular Design and Topology, Biophysical Chemistry of Recombinational Intermediates, DNA-Based Computation, and Crystallography

Research Description: More than 25 years ago, Ned Seeman founded the field of Structural DNA Nanotechnology. This area of chemistry uses the information inherent in DNA for structural purposes. Branched DNA molecules that can be designed to self-assemble from synthetic strands are central to this effort. Cohesive ends allow them to assemble to produce polyhedra and nanotubes. In addition, DNA motifs have been used to produce 2D lattices that are characterized by atomic force microscopy. 3D lattices built the same way are studied by x-ray crystallography. The goal is to use DNA to scaffold other species, such as biological macromolecules and nanoelectronic components. This program has led to a variety of nanomechanical devices, including a translator, walkers and nanorobots. Other research involves DNA-based computation and self-replicating systems. A different program in the lab is concerned with characterizing intermediates in genetic recombination by the techniques of molecular biophysics.

Select Publications:

J. Zheng, J.J. Birktoft, Y. Chen, T. Wang, R. Sha, P.E. Constantinou, S.L. Ginell, C. Mao, & N.C. Seeman, From Molecular to Macroscopic via the Rational Design of a Self-Assembled 3D DNA Crystal, Nature 461, 74-77 (2009).

G. Wu, N. Jonoska & N.C. Seeman, Construction of a DNA Nano-Object Directly Demonstrates Computation, Biosystems 98, 80-84 (2009).

R. Wang, W. Liu & N.C. Seeman, Prototyping Nanorod Control:  A DNA Double Helix Sheathed within a DNA 6-Helix Bundle, Chemistry &. Biology 16, 862-867 (2009).

C.H. Spink, L. Ding, Q. Yang, R.D. Sheardy & N.C. Seeman, Thermodynamics of Forming a Parallel Holliday Crossover, Biophysical Journal 97, 528-538 (2009).

C. Liu, N. Jonoska & N.C. Seeman, Reciprocal DNA Nanomechanical Devices Controlled by the Same Set Strands, NanoLetters 9, 2641-2647 (2009).

T. Omabegho, R. Sha & N.C. Seeman, A  Bipedal DNA Brownian Motor with Coordinated Legs, Science  324, 67-71 (2009).

H. Gu, J. Chao, S.J. Xiao & N.C. Seeman, Dynamic Patterning Programmed by DNA Tiles Captured on a DNA Origami Substrate, Nature Nanotechnology 4, 245-249, (2009).

R. Dreyfus, M.E. Leunissen, R. Sha, A.V. Tkachenko,  N.C. Seeman, D.J. Pine & P.M. Chaikin, A simple quantitative model for the reversible association of DNA coated colloids, Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, Article  048301 (2009).

C. Lin, S. Rinker, X. Wang, Y. Liu, N. C. Seeman & H. Yan, In Vivo Cloning of Artificial DNA Nanostructures, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. (USA) 105, 17626-17631 (2008).

Y. Liu, R. Sha, R. Wang, L. Ding , J.W. Canary, & N.C. Seeman, 2',2'-Ligation Demonstrates the Thermal Dependence of DNA-Directed Positional Control, Tetrahedron 64, 9417-8422 (2008).

Y. Liu, A. Kuzuya, R. Sha, J. Guillaume, R. Wang, J.W. Canary & N.C. Seeman, Coupling Across a DNA Helical Turn Yields a Hybrid DNA/Organic Catenane Doubly Tailed with Functional Termini, Journal of the American Chemical Society 130, 10882-10883 (2008).

B. Chakraborty, R. Sha & N.C. Seeman, A DNA-Based Nanomechanical Device with Three Robust States, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. (USA) 105, 17245-17249 (2008).

J. Zheng, P.S. Lukeman, W.B. Sherman, C. Micheel, A. P. Alivisatos, P.E. Constantinou & N.C. Seeman, Metallic Nanoparticles Used to Estimate the Structural Integrity of DNA Motifs, Biophysical Journal 95, 3340-3348 (2008).

W. Liu, X. Wang, T. Wang, R. Sha & N.C. Seeman, A PX DNA Triangle Oligomerized Using a Novel Three-Domain Motif, NanoLett 8, 317-322 (2008).

X. Wang & N.C. Seeman, The Assembly and Characterization of 8-Arm and 12-Arm DNA Branched Junctions, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 129, 8169-8176 (2007).

A. Kuzuya, R. Wang, R. Sha & N.C. Seeman, Six-Helix and Eight-Helix DNA Nanotubes Assembled from Half-Tubes, NanoLetters 7, 1757-1763 (2007).

A.V. Garibotti, S. Liao & N.C. Seeman, A Simple DNA-Based Translation System, NanoLetters 7, 480-483 (2007).

H. Zhong & N.C. Seeman, RNA Used to Control a DNA Rotary Machine, NanoLetters 6, 2899-2903 (2006).

B. Ding & N.C. Seeman, Operation of a DNA Robot Arm Inserted Into a 2D DNA Crystalline Substrate, Science 314, 1583-1585 (2006).

G. Wu & N.C. Seeman, A Method of Multiplying with DNA, Natural Computing 5, 427-441, (2006).

J. Zheng, P.E. Constantinou, C. Micheel, A.P. Alivisatos, R.A. Kiehl & N.C. Seeman, 2D Nanoparticle Arrays Show the Organizational Power of Robust DNA Motifs, NanoLetters 6, 1502-1504 (2006).

Fellowships/Honors: Damon Runyon Fellow (1972-3), NIH Postdoctoral Fellow (1973-1976), Sidhu Award for RNA crystallography (1974), Basil O'Connor Fellow (1978-1981), NIH Research Career Development Award (1982-1987), Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology for the construction of DNA polyhedra (1995), Discover award in Emerging Technologies for DNA tinkertoys (1997), Honorary Distinguished Prof., Univ. Peruana Cayetano Heredia(1998-), Elected AAAS Fellow(1998), Margaret and Herman Sokol Award in the Sciences, for founding DNA nanotechnology (1999), Margaret and Herman Sokol Chair in Chemistry, New York University (2001-), Tulip Award in DNA-Based Computation (2004), Elected Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry (2005), NIH MERIT Award (2005), Nanotech Briefs Nano50 Innovator Award for DNA nanotechnology (2005), World Technology Network Biotechnology Award (2005), Festschrift Volume, Nanotechnology: Science and Computation, (J.Chen, N.Jonoska, G.Rozenberg, Eds), Springer-Verlag, Berlin (2006)