Optically programming DNA computing in microflow reactors

The programmability and the integration of biochemical processing protocols are addressed for DNA computing using photochemical and microsystem techniques. A magnetically switchable selective transfer module (STM) is presented which implements the basic sequence-specific DNA filtering operation under constant-flow. Secondly, a single steady flow system of STMs is presented which solves an arbitrary instance of the maximal clique problem of given maximum size N. Values of N up to about 100 should be achievable with current lithographic techniques. The specific problem is encoded in an initial labeling pattern of each module with one of 2N DNA oligonucleotides, identical for all instances of maximal clique. Thirdly, a method for optically programming the DNA labeling process via photochemical lithography is proposed, allowing different problem instances to be specified. No hydrodynamic switching of flows is required during operation - the STMs are synchronously clocked by an external magnet. An experimental implementation of this architecture is under construction and will be reported elsewhere. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.