DNA-based technologies for reading and writing large-scale molecular patterns with nanoscale-precision
Abstract
There is a trend toward simultaneous miniaturization and increased capacity in areas as diverse as information systems and synthetic biology. Technologies exist to address the nanometer length scales (e.g., transistors, biological enzymes) and the millimeter to centimeter length scales, but none that can span this entire range effectively. An effective nm-to-cm patterning technology would allow for arbitrary addressability, in the sense that material could be directedto and retrieved from particular positions on the substrate. The positions could be identical but in any desired pattern, or even globally unique on the surface. To these ends, we are developing two technologies that can be applied alone or in combination. The first, Auto-cycling Proximity Recording (APR), is a ???bottom-up??? approach to construction: The positions of molecules on a randomly patterned surface are recorded in new molecules of DNA, and then later analyzed tocreate a surface map. It does not pattern the surface according to a plan, but nevertheless allows for any position(s) to be uniquely addressed. The second, ActionPAINT (A!P), is a ???top-down??? approach: molecules under random motion are followed continuously by super-resolution microscopy and fixed in place when they bind in pre-selected positions. It allows for arbitrary patterning but not globally unique addressing. In the future, the techniques can be combined toyield any combination of patterning and unique addressing. In this grant proposal, we plan to further develop nascent APR and A!P technologies in preparation for nm-to-cm patterning. The APR technology will be transformed, through next generation DNA sequencing, from a technology for decoding complex positioning in homogeneous populations of structures, to asingle-molecule technique for decoding the positions of many individual molecules. The A!P technology will be improved in targeting performance and gain the ability to release and re-write patterns.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 26, 2018
- Source ID
- N000141812549
Entities
People
- Peng Yin
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- President and Fellows of Harvard College
- United States Navy