A versatile DNA-supramolecule logic platform for multifunctional information processing

作者:Yang, Chunrong; Song, Lingbo; Chen, Jianchi; Huang, Dan; Deng, Junling; Du, Yuanyuan; Yang, Dehong; Yang, Shu*; Yang, Qianfan*; Tang, Yalin
来源:NPG Asia Materials, 2018, 10(6): 497-508.
DOI:10.1038/s41427-018-0051-4

摘要

DNA-based logic units are rapidly being developed in molecular computation. However, because DNA cannot produce detectable signals, suitable signal reporters must be carefully selected, which is challenging, especially in advanced, multifunctional devices. By introducing a supramolecular reporter MTC [3,3'-di(3-sulfopropyl)-4,5,4', 5'-dibenzo-9-methyl-thiacarbo-cyanine triethylammonium salt], we developed a simplified DNA-supramolecule platform. Owing to the multiple assembly states of MTC, the platform contains only one reporter block but can provide multiple parallel outputs and easily implement several types of information processing functions, including data filtration (binary and ternary INHIBIT gates), selection (multiplexer and demultiplexer) and verification (parity checker and comparator). In addition to combinational circuits, a fundamental sequential logic circuit, counter, has also been fabricated at the molecular level. With the advantages of high reconfigurability, flexibility and enormous parallelism, this DNA-supramolecule prototype may have a promising future in the field of molecular computing and multiplex chemical analysis.