DNA origami enables the synthesis of complex DNA-based structures at the nanometer-scale with functional properties for a range of applications [1-6].
CanDo offers rapid computational feedback on the 3D structure of programmed DNA assemblies, helping to reduce the time and cost needed to design these structures successfully. With this free online resource we aim to offer the community of academic DNA nanotechnologists worldwide the ability to maximize their efficiency in applying DNA nanotechnology to their application of interest.
3D structure prediction is performed by CanDo using a finite-element-based modeling approach with single base-pair resolution, using input files provided by design files from:
- caDNAno [6] on a honeycomb [3] or square lattice [5],
- Tiamat [7] without a lattice, or
- the CanDo file format (.cndo) without a lattice.
The development and application of CanDo is described on the About page of this website, where links to complex 3D structure predictions including curvature and twist are provided. Practical information on how to approach the design and production of DNA-based nanostructures can be found in references [9-11]. CanDo’s online server runs on the commercial finite element program Abaqus, developed by Dassault Systemes, Inc.
59696 total structures solved successfully by 4299 unique users since March 2011
The Laboratory for Computational Biology & Biophysics is grateful to the Office of Naval Research, the Army Research Office, the National Science Foundation, and Dassault Systemes, Inc. for support in developing and maintaining this free resource.