A Novel Enzyme-Based Method for Highly Efficient Self-replication of DNA Origami Dimers

Self-replication and exponential growth are fundamental to life, driving Darwinian evolution and offering potential for large-scale nanotechnology production. Previously, we demonstrated artificial self-replication and exponential growth using DNA origami tiles, templated on a dimer seed, without enzymes. This was designed to explore how self-replication might have evolved in a prebiotic world, using UV light for crosslinking for an irreversible step. Now, for improved biocompatibility and more dynamic studies like competition and extinction, we introduce a system utilizing T4 DNA ligase instead of UV. This enzyme-based method not only accelerates the process—achieving 2,000,000-fold amplification in just 12 hours—but also opens up opportunities to integrate other enzymes, making the system responsive and adaptable. This enzyme-based method offers valuable insights into the study of dynamic, programmable molecular assemblies. With its enhanced functionality, it holds promise for advancing synthetic biology, creating smart materials, and paving the way for developing complex artificial life systems.