Dr. Jonathan Berengut

Biography

I am a researcher primarily in the field of DNA nanotechnology, focusing on using DNA as a physical building material to construct small (nanometer scale) structures. Unlike molecular biologists who use DNA to code for amino acids and proteins, I utilize DNA strands that follow a simple set of rules to determine how individual nucleotides stick together. My research emphasizes designing sequences of single-stranded DNA that effectively control how strands come together to form desired shapes or structures. One key technique I employ is ‘DNA origami,’ which leverages hundreds of short synthetic DNA strands to efficiently ‘fold’ a longer strand into complex structures. These structures, ranging from two-dimensional to three-dimensional, typically measure in the tens to hundreds of nanometers. They can be designed to be flexible or rigid, incorporating pivots, hinges, and sequence-specific binding sites. Such designs are applied in ‘nano-breadboards’ that spatially organize molecules like proteins and nanoparticles, allowing the creation of multi-enzyme nanoreactors and plasmonic nanodevices. I am particularly interested in building DNA origami nanobots that can assemble specific formations, with the hope of developing new methods for controlling matter at the nanoscale.

Research Interests