Toward Smart Information Processing with Synthetic DNA Molecules

Abstract

DNA, a biological macromolecule, is a naturally evolved information material. From the structural point of view, an individual DNA strand can be considered as a chain of data with its bases working as single units. For decades, due to the high biochemical stability, large information storage capacity, and high recognition specificity, DNA has been recognized as an attractive material for information processing. Especially, the chemical synthesis strategies and DNA sequencing techniques have been rapidly developed recently, further enabling encoding information with synthetic DNA molecules. Herein, recent progresses are summarized on information processing based on synthetic DNA molecules from three aspects including information storage, computation, and encryption, and proposed the challenges and future development directions.

Golden Gate Assembly of DNA Nanostructures

“…By masking and revealing sticky ends in a controllable fashion, it is possible to design a one-pot reaction for the efficient hierarchical assembly of multiple preformed units. The masked sticky ends to be revealed by the enzymatic processing also suggest a potential for the method to be applied in molecular encryption …”

“…The masked sticky ends to be revealed by the enzymatic processing also suggest a potential for the method to be applied in molecular encryption. 30 Like individual enzymes, enzyme cocktails could be useful in DNA self-assembly. Many enzyme cocktails have already become mainstream in molecular cloning, and we believe they could be adapted in the design and construction of DNA nanostructures.…”