title: A deoxyribozyme-based molecular automaton.
abstract: We describe a molecular automaton, called MAYA, which encodes a version of the game of tic-tac-toe and interactively competes against a human opponent. The automaton is a Boolean network of deoxyribozymes that incorporates 23 molecular-scale logic gates and one constitutively active deoxyribozyme arrayed in nine wells (3x3) corresponding to the game board. To make a move, MAYA carries out an analysis of the input oligonucleotide keyed to a particular move by the human opponent and indicates a move by fluorescence signaling in a response well. The cycle of human player input and automaton response continues until there is a draw or a victory for the automaton. The automaton cannot be defeated because it implements a perfect strategy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, Box 84, 650W 168th Street, New York, New York 10032, USA. mns18@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Milan N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Stojanovic
authors.forename: Darko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stefanovic
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D001483:Base Sequence; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D039301:Computers, Molecular; D003205:Computing Methodologies; D003491:Cybernetics / Q000379:methods*; D021881:DNA, Catalytic / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D008128:Logic; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data
chemical_list: D021881:DNA, Catalytic; D046911:Macromolecular Substances