Biological systems often rely on topological transformation to reconfigure connectivity between nodes to guide the flux of molecular information. Here we develop a topology-programmed DNA origami system that encodes signal propagation at the nanoscale, analogous to topologically efficient information processing in cellular systems. We present a systematic molecular implementation of topological operations involving ‘glue–cut’ processes that can prompt global conformational change of DNA origami structures, with demonstrated major topological properties including genus, number of boundary components and orientability. By spatially arranging reactive DNA hairpins, we demonstrate signal propagation across transmission paths of varying lengths and orientations, and curvatures on the curved surfaces of three-dimensional origamis. These DNA origamis can also form dynamic scaffolds for regulating the spatial and temporal signal propagations whereby topological transformations spontaneously alter the location of nodes and boundary of signal propagation network. We anticipate that our strategy for topological operations will provide a general route to manufacture dynamic DNA origami nanostructures capable of performing global structural transformations under programmable control.

生物系统通常依靠拓扑变换来重新配置节点之间的连接，以引导分子信息的流动。在这里，我们开发了一种拓扑编程的 DNA 折纸系统，可以在纳米尺度上编码信号传播，类似于细胞系统中拓扑有效的信息处理。我们提出了一种涉及“胶切”过程的拓扑操作的系统性分子实现，该过程可以促进 DNA 折纸结构的整体构象变化，并展示了主要的拓扑特性，包括属、边界组件的数量和可定向性。通过在空间上排列反应性 DNA 发夹，我们展示了信号在不同长度和方向的传输路径上的传播，以及三维折纸曲面上的曲率。这些DNA折纸还可以形成动态支架来调节空间和时间信号传播，从而拓扑变换自发地改变节点的位置和信号传播网络的边界。我们预计我们的拓扑操作策略将提供一条通用途径来制造动态 DNA 折纸纳米结构，能够在可编程控制下执行全局结构转换。