We show a simple method to control both the stability and the self-assembly behavior of DNA structures. By connecting two adjacent duplexes with small synthetic linkers, factors such as linker rigidity and DNA strand orientation can increase the thermal denaturation temperature of 17 base-pair duplexes by up to 10° C, and significantly increase the cooperativity of melting of the two duplexes. The same DNA sequence can thus be tuned ...
