All-DNA finite-state automata with finite memory.

Wang, Zhen-Gang; Elbaz, Johann; Remacle, F; Levine, R D; Willner, Itamar · Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · 2010

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Biomolecular logic devices can be applied for sensing and nano-medicine. We built three DNA tweezers that are activated by the inputs H(+)/OH(-); ; nucleic acid linker/complementary antilinker to yield a 16-states finite-state automaton. The outputs of the automata are the configuration of the respective tweezers (opened or closed) determined by observing fluorescence from a fluorophore/quencher pair at the end of the arms of the tweezers. The system exhibits a memory because each current state and output depend not only on the source configuration but also on past states and inputs.

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