Fig. 2: Autonomous single-stranded DNA Nano-winch characterization.

A Fully assembled trimer with single-stranded 97 nt connectors exists in an equilibrium state between ~5–25 nm with corresponding reference-free class average calculated from single-particle TEM micrographs. Measured distance r, correlates directly to the distance d between the surface and the tip of the piston. Nano-winches tuned with (B) 97 nt, (C) 60 nt, and (D) 30 nt connector strands and the corresponding distance d distributions and reference-free class averages (particle sets available in Supplementary Figs. 20, 22). The length of the connectors are adjusted by storing the excess scaffold in reservoir loops on the backstop, in red. E The forces exerted by a single (n = 1) top (orange) and bottom (blue) 97 nt ssDNA molecule are plotted as a function of extension x defined as the distance between the bottom of the piston and the bottom of the cylinder. The force of the linear spring is plotted for the values of kprotein (kpr) = (0.1, 0.5, 1) pN/nm. F Total force as a function of x for the three values used for kpr. The corresponding values of the equilibrium state of x, x_eq, are shown as vertical gray dashed lines in both a) and b) (Supplementary Note 1). G The total force applied on the linear spring as a function of kpr, when n = 6 molecules of 97 nt are present at the top and at the bottom of the structure.