Dataset underlying publication: De novo DNA-based catch bonds

All primary chemical interactions weaken under mechanical stress, which imposes fundamental mechanical limits on the materials constructed from them. Biological materials combine plasticity with strength, for which nature has evolved a unique solution: catch bonds, supramolecular interactions that strengthen under tension. Biological catch bonds use force-gated conformational switches to convert weak bonds into strong ones. To date, catch bonds remain exclusive to nature, leaving their potential as mechano-adaptive elements in synthetic systems untapped. Here, we report the design and realization of artificial catch bonds. Starting from a minimal set of thermodynamic design requirements, we created a molecular motif capable of catch bonding. It consists of a DNA duplex featuring a cryptic domain that unfolds under tension to strengthen the interaction. We show that these catch bonds recreate force-enhanced rolling adhesion, a hallmark feature of biological catch bonds in bacteria and leukocytes. This work introduces catch bonds into the synthetic domain.

所有基础化学相互作用均会随机械应力作用发生衰减，这为由其构建的材料设定了根本性的力学极限。生物材料兼具塑性与强度，自然界为此演化出了一种独特解决方案：抓键（catch bonds）——一类可随张力提升而增强的超分子相互作用。生物抓键借助力门控构象开关，将弱相互作用转化为强相互作用。迄今为止，抓键仍仅存在于自然界中，其作为机械自适应元件在人工合成体系中的应用潜力尚未得到充分发掘。本研究报道了人工抓键的设计与实现：我们从一组极简热力学设计要求出发，构建出了具备抓键特性的分子基元。该基元由带有隐蔽结构域的DNA双链体构成，该结构域可在张力作用下解折叠，从而强化整体相互作用。我们证实，此类人工抓键可重现力增强型滚动黏附现象——这是细菌与白细胞中生物抓键的标志性特征。本研究将抓键引入了合成科学领域。