Functional devices from DNA and proteins

This review provides an overview of the developments in semisynthetic DNA-protein conjugates. Both covalent and noncovalent bioconjugation strategies are used to combine natural proteins and synthetic nucleic acid building blocks to produce nanoscale functional devices. Examples include the formation of supramolecular assemblies from proteins and chemically modified DNA molecules that can serve as diagnostic tools and allow fundamental research in nanosciences. The approach allows one to fabricate model systems for the investigation of catalytic cascade reactions or light-harvesting devices. Semisynthetic DNA-protein conjugates can be used in the biofunctionalization of planar surfaces for micro- and nanoarray technologies. Moreover, examples are given in which inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) are decorated with DNA and proteins to enable applications in sensing, materials science, and catalysis.