Fluorescent protein nanovessels packing DNA into a nucleosome-like gene carrier

Abstract

We describe here a new type of DNA scaffold called fluorescent protein nanovessels (FPNs). This protein-based fluorescent material can recognize DNA and pack DNA into nucleosome-like structures, which partially resembles DNA assembly in vivo. The DNA recognizing FPNs showed excellent fluorescence properties, high biocompatibility, and can be readily internalized by yeast cells. Importantly, FPNs can serve as gene carriers that deliver functional DNA into the cells. We expect that FPNs will be a good platform to study DNA assembly and packing as well as a new carrier system to deliver genes.