Sequence-Specific Molecular Lithography on Single DNA Molecules

TLDR

Recent advances in individual molecular‑scale electronic devices emphasize the need for novel tools and concepts capable of assembling such devices into large‑scale functional circuits. In a sequence‑specific manner, we patterned DNA with metal, localized labeled molecular objects, grew metal islands at specific sites, and used RecA protein as a resist to generate stable DNA junctions that define substrate connectivity. The sequence‑specific molecular lithography achieves high resolution over a broad range of length scales from nanometers to many micrometers, enabling precise patterning of DNA substrates.

Abstract

Recent advances in the realization of individual molecular-scale electronic devices emphasize the need for novel tools and concepts capable of assembling such devices into large-scale functional circuits. We demonstrated sequence-specific molecular lithography on substrate DNA molecules by harnessing homologous recombination by RecA protein. In a sequence-specific manner, we patterned the coating of DNA with metal, localized labeled molecular objects and grew metal islands on specific sites along the DNA substrate, and generated molecularly accurate stable DNA junctions for patterning the DNA substrate connectivity. In our molecular lithography, the information encoded in the DNA molecules replaces the masks used in conventional microelectronics, and the RecA protein serves as the resist. The molecular lithography works with high resolution over a broad range of length scales from nanometers to many micrometers.