Self-organisation of planar and tripod-shaped DNA stars confined to the water–air interface

Using molecular dynamic simulations of coarse-grained models, we study the self-organisation of star-shaped all-DNA constructs, composed of suitably intertwined single-stranded DNA chains, confined to water-air interface. Two configurations of DNA stars are considered: planar and tripod with respect to whether the entire star is fixed to an interface or only its terminating nucleotides, while the rest is allowed to dive into a water where high concentration of monovalent salt is dissolved. Calculated structural properties of the solutions they form as well as their dynamical features, investigated in a range from low- to intermediate densities, reveal that both systems stay in liquid state maintaining remarkably similar properties despite striking differences in the conformation of the composing molecules.