Enzyme-driven i-motif DNA folding for logic operations and fluorescent biosensing

Area of Science:

• * Molecular biology
• * Nanotechnology
• * Biochemistry

Background:

• * DNA nanodevices offer potential for complex molecular computations.
• * Enzymatic reactions can be harnessed for precise control of molecular systems.
• * Cytosine-rich DNA structures are sensitive to environmental changes like pH.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To develop DNA nanodevices capable of NOR and NAND logic operations.
• * To utilize enzymatic reactions for driving DNA nanodevice conformational changes.
• * To design novel fluorescent biosensors based on these DNA logic gates for practical applications.

Main Methods:

• * Employed enzymatic reactions to generate localized acidic pH gradients.
• * Utilized pH-induced conformational changes in cytosine-rich DNA to achieve logic operations.
• * Integrated DNA logic gates into fluorescent biosensor platforms.

Main Results:

• * Successfully demonstrated DNA nanodevices performing NOR and NAND logic functions.
• * Achieved high selectivity and sensitivity in enzymatic reactions controlling DNA nanodevices.
• * Developed functional fluorescent biosensors for enzyme activity assays and glucose sensing.

Conclusions:

• * Enzymatic reactions provide a robust mechanism for DNA-based logic operations.
• * The developed DNA nanodevices and biosensors show promise for sensitive molecular detection.
• * This work expands the toolkit for DNA computing and biosensing applications.