Reconfigurable DNA triplex structure for pH responsive logic gates

Abstract

The DNA triplex is a special DNA structure often used as a logic gate substrate due to its high stability, programmability, and pH responsiveness. However, multiple triplex structures with different C−G−C⁺ proportions must be introduced into existing triplex logic gates due to the numerous logic calculations involved. This requirement complicates circuit design and results in many reaction by-products, greatly restricting the construction of large-scale logic circuits. Thus, we designed a new reconfigurable DNA triplex structure (RDTS) and constructed the pH-responsive logic gates through its conformational change that uses two types of logic calculations, ‘AND’ and ‘OR’. The use of these logic calculations necessitates fewer substrates, further enhancing the extensibility of the logic circuit. This result is expected to promote the development of the triplex in molecular computing and facilitate the completion of large-scale computing networks.