Physics of multivalent surface binding using DNA

Summary
Weak multivalent interactions govern a large variety of biological processes like cell-cell adhesion, virus-host interactions and polarity establishment. These systems distinguish sharply between surfaces based on receptor density, known as superselectivity. In our lab we study the physical mechanism underlying superselective surface binding using DNA linkers, that give us unprecedented control over valency and interactions strength. We combine our experimental work with computational work and theoretical analysis and apply our insight to the specific biological problem of polarity establishment.
 
Lab members
Valentina Quiroga Fonseca
Dr. Ramon van der Valk

Collaborators
Prof. dr. Daniela Kraft, Soft Matter, Leiden University, experiments
Dr. Jos Zwanikken, Bionanoscience, TU Delft, theory and computer simulations.

Papers
C Linne, E Heemskerk, J Zwanikken, D J Kraft#, L Laan# (2023)
Optimality in superselective surface binding by multivalent DNA nanostars
Arxiv, https://arxiv.org/abs/2306.16885
# corresponding authors

C Linne, D Visco, S Angioletti-Uberti, L Laan#, D J Kraft# (2021)
Direct visualization of superselective colloid-surface binding mediated by multivalent interactions. 
Proc Natl Acad Sci, 118: (36) e2106036118; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2106036118
# corresponding authors