
Amelie Heuer-JungemannMax Planck Institute of Biochemistry | MPIB · Department of Molecular Medicine
Amelie Heuer-Jungemann
PhD Physics and MChem Chemistry with Biochemistry
About
69
Publications
14,697
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Introduction
I am currently leading the DNA Hybrid Nanomaterials Group at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry. I received my PhD in Physics/Bionanotechnology from the University of Southampton, working on biomedical applications of DNA-coated nanoparticles. I then moved to the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, as a PostDoc working on the development of 3D DNA origami crystals as well as novel DNA sequenceing methods using superresolution microscopy and DNA-Silica Hybrid Nanomaterials.
Additional affiliations
August 2020 - present
August 2016 - July 2020
September 2011 - June 2013
Education
September 2006 - July 2011
Publications
Publications (69)
Improving the stability of DNA origami structures with respect to thermal, chemical and mechanical influences will be essential to fully explore of the real‐life applicability of DNA nanotechnology. Here we present a strategy to increase the mechanical resilience of individual DNA origami objects and more advanced 3D DNA origami crystals in solutio...
Nanoscale probes with fine-tunable properties are of key interest in cell biology and nanomedicine to elucidate and eventually control signaling processes in cells. A critical, still challenging issue is to conjugate these probes with molecules in a number-and spatially-controlled manner. Here, DNA origami-based nanoagents as nanometer precise scaf...
Nucleic acid nanotechnology lays a foundation for the user-friendly design and synthesis of DNA frameworks of any desirable shape with extreme accuracy and addressability. Undoubtedly, such features make these structures ideal modules for positioning and organizing molecules and molecular components into complex assemblies. One of the emerging conc...
The silicification of DNA origami structures increases their mechanical and thermal stability and provides chemical protection. So far, it is unclear how silicification affects the internal structure of the DNA origami and whether the whole DNA framework is embedded or if silica just forms an outer shell. By using in situ small-angle X-ray scatteri...
DNA nanotechnology allows for the fabrication of nano-meter-sized objects with high precision and selective addressability as a result of the programmable hybridization of complementary DNA strands. Such structures can template the formation of other materials, including metals and complex silica nanostructures, where the silica shell simultaneousl...
Self‐assembly presents a remarkable approach for creating intricate structures by positioning nanomaterials in precise locations, with control over molecular interactions. For example, material arrays with interplanar distances similar to the wavelength of light can generate structural color through complex interactions like scattering, diffraction...
Self‐assembly presents a remarkable approach for creating intricate structures by positioning nanomaterials in precise locations, with control over molecular interactions. For example, material arrays with interplanar distances similar to the wavelength of light can generate structural color through complex interactions like scattering, diffraction...
The high functionality of DNA nanostructures makes them a promising tool for biomedical applications, their intrinsic instability under application-relevant conditions, still remains challenging. Protective coating of DNA nanostructures with materials like silica or cationic polymers has evolved as a simple, yet powerful strategy to improve their s...
Background
Cluster of differentiation 95 (CD95/Fas/Apo1) as part of the Tumor-necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family is a prototypic trigger of the ‘extrinsic’ apoptotic pathway and its activation by the trimeric ligand CD95L is of high interest for anticancer therapy. However, CD95L, when presented in solution, exhibits a low efficiency to induce a...
Die DNA taugt zu mehr als nur zur α‐Helix – auf bestimmte Weise manipulierte DNA faltet sich zum Beispiel zu Platten. Darauf platziert die Gruppe von FCI‐Dozentenpreisträgerin Amelie Heuer‐Jungemann nanometergenau Proteine und lässt sie interagieren. Als Wirkstoffträger eignen sich die Platten bisher nicht, da sie im Menschen sofort zerfallen. Aber...
Within the cell, chemical reactions are often confined and organized through a modular architecture. This facilitates the targeted localization of molecular species and their efficient translocation to subsequent sites. Here we present a cell-free nanoscale model that exploits compartmentalization strategies to carry out regulated protein unfolding...
Biological nanopores crucially control the import and export of biomolecules across lipid membranes in cells. They have found widespread use in biophysics and biotechnology, where their typically narrow, fixed diameters enable selective transport of ions and small molecules, as well as DNA and peptides for sequencing applications. Yet, due to their...
Chemische Proteinsynthese: Neue Techniken in der Durchflusschemie und selektive Ligationsmethoden ermöglichen, komplexe und präzise modifizierte Peptide und Proteine für biologische Anwendungen herzustellen. Funktionelle Charakterisierung: Mit Methoden aus Mikrobiologie, chemischer Biologie und Biochemie untersuchen Forschende die molekulare Funkti...
Biological nanopores crucially control the import and export of biomolecules across lipid membranes in cells. They have found widespread use in biophysics and biotechnology, where their typically narrow, fixed diameters enable selective transport of ions and small molecules as well as DNA and peptides for sequencing applications. Yet, due to their...
Nanofabrication has experienced a big boost with the invention of DNA origami, enabling the production and assembly of complex nanoscale structures that may be able to unlock fully new functionalities in biology and beyond. The remarkable precision with which these structures can be designed and produced is, however, not yet matched by their assemb...
Within the cell, chemical reactions are often confined and organized through a modular architecture. This facilitates the targeted localization of molecular species and their efficient translocation to subsequent sites. Here, we present a cell-free nanoscale model that exploits this compartmentalization principle to carry out regulated protein unfo...
Intricate self-organization is essential in many biological processes, underpinning vital functions and interactions. In an effort to mimic such processes, synthetic biology aims to engineer dynamic structures with controllable functions using nanotechnological tools. A key requirement of engineered building blocks is the ability to assemble and di...
Although for many purposes, low concentrations of DNA origami are sufficient, certain applications such as cryo electron microscopy, measurements involving small-angle X-ray scattering, or in vivo applications require high DNA origami concentrations of >200 nM. This is achievable by ultrafiltration or polyethylene glycol precipitation but often at...
Anisometric DNA nanoparticles with precisely tailored size and shape are prepared by three-dimensional folding of DNA – DNA origami – marked with a fluorescent intercalating dye (YOYO-1), stabilised with silica, and dispersed in a lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal (an aqueous solution of disodium cromoglycate). Observations by total internal refle...
DNA nanotechnology allows for the fabrication of nano-meter-sized objects with high precision and selective addressability as a result of the programmable hybridization of complementary DNA strands. Such structures can template the formation of other materials, including metals and complex silica nanostructures, where the silica shell simultaneousl...
Silicification of DNA origami structures increases their stability and provides chemical protection. Yet, it is unclear whether the whole DNA framework is embedded or if silica just forms an outer shell and how silicification affects the origami’s internal structure. Employing in situ small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), we show that addition of si...
Cell signaling is initiated by characteristic protein patterns in the plasma membrane, but tools to decipher their molecular organization and activation are hitherto lacking. Among the well‐known signaling pattern is the death inducing signaling complex with a predicted hexagonal receptor architecture. To probe this architecture, DNA origami‐based...
Doxorubicin (DOX) is a common drug in cancer chemotherapy, and its high DNA-binding affinity can be harnessed in preparing DOX-loaded DNA nanostructures for targeted delivery and therapeutics. Although DOX has been widely studied, the existing literature of DOX-loaded DNA-carriers remains limited and incoherent. Here, based on an in-depth spectrosc...
Doxorubicin (DOX) is a common drug in cancer chemotherapy, and its high DNA-binding affinity can be harnessed in preparing DOX-loaded DNA nanostructures for targeted delivery and therapeutics. Although DOX has been widely studied, the existing literature of DOX-loaded DNA-carriers remains limited and incoherent. Here, based on an in-depth spectrosc...
The spatial organization of metal nanoparticles has become an important tool for manipulating light in nanophotonic applications. Silver nanoparticles, particularly silver nanorods have excellent plasmonic properties, but are prone to oxidation and are therefore inherently unstable in aqueous solutions and salt containing buffers. Consequently, gol...
Although DNA origami nanostructures have found their way into numerous fields of fundamental and applied research, they often suffer from rather limited stability when subjected to environments that differ from the employed assembly conditions, that is, suspended in Mg²⁺‐containing buffer at moderate temperatures. Here, means for efficient cryopres...
Over the past few decades, DNA has turned into one of the most widely used molecular linkers and a versatile building block for the self-assembly of DNA nanostructures. Such complexes, composed of only a few oligonucleotides (e.g., DNA tiles) or assembled from hundreds of synthetic and natural scaffolding strands (e.g., DNA origami), are being incr...
The cover depicts the multiple ways that a large variety of ligands can interact with the surface of nanoparticles. Ligands play a vital role in the synthesis of nanoparticles and define nanoparticle dispersity and function in complex media.
The design of nanoparticles is critical for their efficient use in many applications ranging from biomedicine to sensing and energy. While shape and size are responsible for the properties of the inorganic nanoparticle core, the choice of ligands is of utmost importance for the colloidal stability and function of the nanoparticles. Moreover, the se...
Improving the stability of DNA origami structures with respect to thermal, chemical, and mechanical demands will be essential to fully explore the real‐life applicability of DNA nanotechnology. Here we present a strategy to increase the mechanical resilience of individual DNA origami objects and 3D DNA origami crystals in solution as well as in the...
Using DNA origami, in article number 1800273, Tim Liedl and co‐workers demonstrate the assembly of molecularly designed rhombohedral crystalline lattices with unit cells providing large open spaces for co‐crystallization of guest components such as gold nanoparticles. Lattices like the ones shown here could act in future research as tunable photoni...
In this work, we report on a novel approach to develop hierarchically-structured cell culture platforms incorporating functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). In particular, the hierarchical substrates comprise primary pseudo-periodic arrays of silicon microcones combined with a secondary nanoscale pattern of homogenously deposited AuNPs terminat...
Wound healing is a highly complex biological process, which is accompanied by changes in cell phenotype, variations in protein expression, and the production of active biomolecules. Currently, the detection of proteins in cells is done by immunostaining where the proteins in fixed cells are detected by labeled antibodies. However, immunostaining ca...
Background
Anti-angiogenic therapy has great potential for cancer therapy with several FDA approved formulations but there are considerable side effects upon the normal blood vessels that decrease the potential application of such therapeutics. Chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) has been used as a model to study angiogenesis in vivo. Using a CA...
Engineering shape and interactions of nanoscopic building blocks allows for the assembly of rationally designed macroscopic three-dimensional (3D) materials with spatial accuracy inaccessible to top-down fabrication methods. Owing to its sequence-specific interaction, DNA is often used as selective binder to connect metallic nanoparticles into high...
Engineering shape and interactions of nanoscopic building blocks allows for the assembly of rationally designed macroscopic three-dimensional (3D) materials with spatial accuracy inaccessible to top-down fabrication methods. Owing to its sequence-specific interaction, DNA is often used as selective binder to connect metallic nanoparticles into high...
Understanding the interactions between photoexcited charge carriers (electrons and holes) with lattice vibrations (phonons) in quantum confined semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) is of fundamental interest and a prerequisite for their use in fabricating high-performance optoelectronic devices. Such interactions have a significant impact on their opto...
Supporting information for the relevant paper.
The design of nanoparticles that can selectively perform multiple roles is of
utmost importance for the development of the next generation of nanoparticulate drug
delivery systems. So far most research studies are focused on the customization of
nanoparticulate carriers to maximize their drug loading, enhance their optical signature
for tracking...
Cesium lead halide (CsPbX3, X = Cl, Br, I) nanocrystals (NCs) offer exceptional optical properties for several potential applications but their implementation is hindered by a low chemical and structural stability and limited processability. In the present work, we developed a new method to efficiently coat CsPbX3 NCs, which resulted in their incre...
In this work, peptides designed to selectively interact with cellular receptors involved in the regulation of angiogenesis were anchored to oligo-ethylene glycol-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and used to evaluate the modulation of vascular development using an ex ovo chick chorioallantoic membrane assay. These nanoparticles alter the balance be...
In this work, peptides designed to selectively interact with cellular receptors involved in the regulation of angiogenesis were anchored to oligo-ethylene glycol-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and used to evaluate the modulation of vascular development using an ex ovo chick chorioallantoic membrane assay. These nanoparticles alter the balance be...
In this paper we present our recent studies on creating a nano-probe for the detection of all mRNA sequences in epithelial cells using nanoparticles coated with dye-labeled DNA strands. The nanoparticles are stable in biological conditions and they have the ability to enter the cells in high numbers.
A new light trapping architecture to enhance the power conversion efficiency of organic photovoltaics is proposed and implemented. In article number 1501640, Emmanuel Kymakis and co-workers demonstrate that the incorporation of gold nanorods inside the rear buffer layer, leads to the redistribution of photons inside the active medium mainly through...
We present a new method to program the covalent binding of gold nanoparticles onto graphene oxide sheets. The binding selectivity is driven by the synergy of chemically modified oligonucleotides, grafted onto the surfaces of nanoparticles and graphene oxide. In the presence of a templating complementary DNA strand, nanoparticles are brought near th...
In this paper we present current and previous methods developed in our laboratory to program the assembly of nanoparticles into oligomers or more sophisticated structures. To direct the assembly of nanoparticles we used biomolecular and chemical tools ranging from peptides to oligonucleotides and photosensitive ligands
In this paper we present current and previous methods developed in our laboratory to program the assembly of nanoparticles into oligomers or more sophisticated structures. To direct the assembly of nanoparticles we used biomolecular and chemical tools ranging from peptides to oligonucleotides and photosensitive ligands.
The interactions between skin and colloidal gold nanoparticles of different
physicochemical characteristics are investigated. By systematically varying the charge,
shape, and functionality of gold nanoparticles, the nanoparticle penetration through
the different skin layers is assessed. The penetration is evaluated both qualitatively
and quantitati...
In recent years biomolecules have been used to infer specific functionality to nanomaterials. Advances in conjugation techniques have allowed for the development of a vast range of hybrid bio-nano materials. Their applications range from biosensing and targeted therapy to metamaterials. In particular the conjugation of nanomaterials to functional o...
The interactions between skin and colloidal gold nanoparticles of different physicochemical characteristics are investigated. By systematically varying the charge, shape, and functionality of gold nanoparticles, the nanoparticle penetration through the different skin layers is assessed. The penetration is evaluated both qualitatively and quantitati...
Table of contents: S1. Skin structure. S2. TEM Images of degenerating skin after prolonged incubation. S3. Schematic illustration of the different types of gold nanoparticles used in the skin penetration experiments. S4. Physicochemical characterization of the different types of nanoparticles. S5. The two experimental set-ups when incubating nanopa...
An efficient, high yielding, chemo- and regioselective, five-step synthetic route to N-2-Cbz-guanin-9-yl acetic acid has been developed, which avoids the use of triphosgene. After formation of the N-2-Boc protected purine from 2-amino-6-chloropurine, two successive base-controlled alkylations allowed an N-9-tert-butyl acetate function followed by a...
In the past decade gold nanoparticle-nucleic acid conjugates became progressively important for biomedical applications. Fluorophores attached to nucleic acid-gold nanoparticle conjugates have opened up a new era of biological sensing. The most promising advancement in this field was the invention of the so-called 'nano-flare' systems. These system...
We demonstrate a new method to program the ligation of single
stranded DNA-modified gold nanoparticles using copper-free click
chemistry. Gold nanoparticles functionalized with a discrete number
of 30-azide or 50-alkyne modified oligonucleotides, can be brought
together via a splint strand and covalently ‘clicked’, in a simple onepot
reaction. This...
The reaction proceeds regio- and stereoselectively and a variety of iodo-tert-allylic ethers is prepared in high yields from primary alcohols.
Gold(I)-catalysed intermolecular iodoalkoxylation of allenes occurs in a regioselective and stereoselective manner to produce versatile iodo-tert-allyllic ether products. The products can be further elaborated through cross-couplings to yield highly substituted tert-allylic ethers.
Questions
Questions (3)
I have a polymer-AuNPs system in toluene that I'd like to purify using gel permeation chromatography. Is there any way of doing this without using the appropriate instrument? I.e. some sort of kit? My polymer is highly air and moisture sensitive, so I'd need to work in a glove box. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Is there a way of excluding plus/minus strand results in a nucleotide BLAST search?
Do the mRNA expression profiles of primary HBEC culture differ much from cultured 16HBE cells? (In terms of WHICH mRNAs are expressed)?