title: Directed enzymatic activation of 1-D DNA tiles.
abstract: The tile assembly model is a Turing universal model of self-assembly where a set of square shaped tiles with programmable sticky sides undergo coordinated self-assembly to form arbitrary shapes, thereby computing arbitrary functions. Activatable tiles are a theoretical extension to the Tile assembly model that enhances its robustness by protecting the sticky sides of tiles until a tile is partially incorporated into a growing assembly. In this article, we experimentally demonstrate a simplified version of the Activatable tile assembly model. In particular, we demonstrate the simultaneous assembly of protected DNA tiles where a set of inert tiles are activated via a DNA polymerase to undergo linear assembly. We then demonstrate stepwise activated assembly where a set of inert tiles are activated sequentially one after another as a result of attachment to a growing 1-D assembly. We hope that these results will pave the way for more sophisticated demonstrations of activated assemblies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, Duke University , Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States.
authors.forename: Sudhanshu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.forename: Harish
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chandran
authors.forename: Nikhil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gopalkrishnan
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: LaBean
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reif
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase
keywords: DNA Polymerase; DNA self assembly; DNA tile; directed assembly; sequential assembly