TRANSDUCER GENERATED ARRAYS OF ROBOTIC NANO-ARMS

Molecular ping-pong Game of Life on a two-dimensional DNA origami array

We propose a design for programmed molecular interactions that continuously change molecular arrangements in a predesigned manner. We introduce a model where environmental control through laser illumination allows platform attachment/detachment oscillations between two floating molecular species. The platform is a two-dimensional DNA origami array of tiles decorated with strands that provide both, the floating molecular tiles to attach and to pass communicating signals to neighbouring array tiles. In particular, we show how algorithmic molecular interactions can control cyclic molecular arrangements by exhibiting a system that can simulate the dynamics similar to two-dimensional cellular automata on a DNA origami array platform.

Computing by molecular self-assembly

The paper reviews two computing models by DNA self-assembly whose proof of principal have recently been experimentally confirmed. The first model incorporates DNA nano-devices and triple crossover DNA molecules to algorithmically arrange non-DNA species. This is achieved by simulating a finite-state automaton with output where golden nanoparticles are assembled to read-out the result. In the second model, a complex DNA molecule representing a graph emerges as a solution of a computational problem. This supports the idea that in molecular self-assembly computing, it may be necessary to develop the notion of shape processing besides the classical approach through symbol processing.