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An autonomous molecular computer for logical control of gene expression

Nature volume 429, pages 423–429 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Early biomolecular computer research focused on laboratory-scale, human-operated computers for complex computational problems1,2,3,4,5,6,7. Recently, simple molecular-scale autonomous programmable computers were demonstrated8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15 allowing both input and output information to be in molecular form. Such computers, using biological molecules as input data and biologically active molecules as outputs, could produce a system for ‘logical’ control of biological processes. Here we describe an autonomous biomolecular computer that, at least in vitro, logically analyses the levels of messenger RNA species, and in response produces a molecule capable of affecting levels of gene expression. The computer operates at a concentration of close to a trillion computers per microlitre and consists of three programmable modules: a computation module, that is, a stochastic molecular automaton12,13,14,15,16,17; an input module, by which specific mRNA levels or point mutations regulate software molecule concentrations, and hence automaton transition probabilities; and an output module, capable of controlled release of a short single-stranded DNA molecule. This approach might be applied in vivo to biochemical sensing, genetic engineering and even medical diagnosis and treatment. As a proof of principle we programmed the computer to identify and analyse mRNA of disease-related genes18,19,20,21,22 associated with models of small-cell lung cancer and prostate cancer, and to produce a single-stranded DNA molecule modelled after an anticancer drug.

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Figure 1: Logical design and logical operation of the molecular computer.
Figure 2: Operation of the molecular computer.
Figure 3: Experimental demonstration of diagnosis.
Figure 4: Experimental demonstration of drug administration.

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Acknowledgements

We thank K. Katzav for the design and preparation of the figures; G. Linshiz for discussion and help in oligonucleotide purification; Z. Livneh for encouraging us to pursue this research direction; A. Regev for critical review and suggestions; and M. Vardi for discussion and references. This work was supported by the Moross Institute for Cancer Research, Israeli Science Foundation and the Minerva Foundation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel

    Yaakov Benenson, Uri Ben-Dor & Ehud Shapiro

  2. Department of Biological Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel

    Yaakov Benenson, Binyamin Gil, Rivka Adar & Ehud Shapiro

Authors
  1. Yaakov Benenson
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  2. Binyamin Gil
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  3. Uri Ben-Dor
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  4. Rivka Adar
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  5. Ehud Shapiro
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ehud Shapiro.

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A patent application may be made on the results reported.

Supplementary information

Supplementary Methods

This file contains all the experimental protocols relevant to the main text, the detailed description of the automata design and the deoxyoligonucleotide sequences of its parts. (DOC 146 kb)

Supplementary Data

Three additional experiments are described: 1. Demonstration of the automaton ability to detect a point mutation; 2. Adjusting confidence in a positive diagnosis for various concentrations of the molecular indicator 3. The release of an approved ssDNA drug (Vitravene). (DOC 74 kb)

Supplementary Notes

A probabilistic framework for the diagnostic process is given. (DOC 19 kb)

Supplementary Figure 1

Architecture of the molecular finite automaton, featuring its input, software and hardware components. (JPG 91 kb)

Supplementary Figure 2

Molecular components of the computer. (JPG 145 kb)

Supplementary Figure 3

Calibration curve showing regulation of probability of Yes output state in a single-step computation by a pTRI-Xef generic mRNA marker. (JPG 96 kb)

Supplementary Figure 4

Selectivity of the diagnostic automata for their disease models. (JPG 102 kb)

Supplementary Figure 5

Release of the approved antisense drug. (JPG 103 kb)

Supplementary Figure Legends (DOC 60 kb)

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Benenson, Y., Gil, B., Ben-Dor, U. et al. An autonomous molecular computer for logical control of gene expression. Nature 429, 423–429 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature02551

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