Using Gene Regulation to Program DNA‐Based Molecular Devices

Abstract

DNA-based nanodevices can perform increasingly more complex and useful functions. To permit DNA nanomachines to act independently and respond to environmental stimuli, the instructions for the control of the machines can be encoded into a gene regulated by genetic switches from the SOS regulon and lac operon (see image). Depending on the presence of regulatory proteins or chemical inducers, mRNA signals are transcribed that bring about machine action.