• Research
  • 05/03/2019

Molecular casings makes DNA-computing in blood viable

DNA molecules can potentially be reprogrammed to help do useful things, like detecting diseases and releasing drugs. But until now this so-called DNA computing was impossible in blood, as human enzymes degrade the molecules almost instantly. Biomedical Engineer Tom de Greef from TU/e, together with researchers from Radboud University, University of Bristol and Microsoft Research, has solved this issue by creating a protective molecular casings, in which they created functioning DNA-based computational circuits. This compartmentalization approach has a nice bonus: it also increases the computing speed. The results are published in Nature Nanotechnology.

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photo TU/e

Desktop computers use a series of logic gates to transform electric inputs into outputs. In a similar manner, molecular computers made from DNA use programmable interactions between DNA strands to transform DNA inputs into outputs. DNA computers can be programmed to perform complex calculations on molecular data without human intervention.

In a study published Monday in Nature Nanotechnology, a team led by Tom de Greef (Associate Professor in Synthetic Biology at the TU/e Department of Biomedical Engineering), and by Professor Stephen Mann (University of Bristol’s School of Chemistry) presents a new approach for DNA-based computers. This approach uses communities of capsules (‘proteinosomes’). These capsules contain a diversity of DNA molecules that together can be used for molecular sensing and computation, with potential applications in in-vitro diagnostics and smart therapeutics.

Faster, modular, effective

DNA computers are inherently slow and poorly scalable because they operate in a ‘chemical soup’ where they rely on random diffusion to interact with each other and execute a computational step. De Greef: “With the introduction of compartmentalization, we increase the concentration of DNA molecules inside the capsules and, thus, the computing speed. Also, compartmentalization enables a modular design of the computational circuits.”

Read on below image.

Microscopy image showing green, dark blue and blue-labelled synthetic protocells used for DNA communication and computing. The protocells contain DNA logic gates and are trapped between pairs of small pillars (grey objects) in a microfluidic device. Scale bar, 100 μm. Image | A. Joesaar et al., Nature Nanotechnology

One of the long-standing goals of nanotechnology is to create autonomous molecular machines that can operate in harsh biological environments. “To date”, explains De Greef, “DNA-based computers still cannot be used in biological relevant environments as enzymes present in blood serum would destroy the DNA strands responsible for computations.” In the approach proposed in this study, the encapsulation of DNA molecules inside proteinosomes makes them less vulnerable to digestion by enzymes. Thus, their lifetime in blood serum is greatly increased, opening the way to the development of real, cell-like autonomous systems operating in physiological conditions.

Bi-directional communication

Living cells communicate by secreting diffusible signaling molecules that activate key molecular processes in neighboring cells. These intercellular communication is often bi-directional and include both positive and negative regulatory interactions. De Greef: “With our platform, we mimicked intercellular communication occurring in living systems by using two communities of artificial cells. For example, we showed that, when an input DNA strand enters and activates the first community, the secreted signal activates the second community. The latter responds secreting an inhibitor which deactivates back the first community.”

This new approach lays the groundwork for using protocell communication platforms to bring embedded molecular control circuits closer to practical applications in the medical field. Currently, researchers at the TU/e and Microsoft are testing the compartmentalized DNA circuits to detect and classify diseases.

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