Patterning surface-bound microtubules through reversible DNA hybridization

Biomolecular motors have great potential as transporters and actuators in microscale devices. Existing efforts toward harnessing kinesin motors have involved microtubule movements over immobilized motors. The reverse geometry has distinct advantages, but progress has been hindered by the difficulty of immobilizing patterned and aligned microtubules on surfaces. Here we show that microtubules can be reversibly patterned with microscale resolution through DNA hybridization, and that these DNA-functionalized microtubules support the movement of kinesin-coated beads.