Molecular computing is a growing field with implications ranging from logical computations and data storage to targeted drug delivery. G-quadruplexes are stable DNA nanostructures that can be applied in numerous ways, including in molecular computing. We designed and characterized the stability of novel quadruplexes containing two lateral recognition loops with potential to act as a logical OR gate. Quadruplexes with 8-15 bp partially complementary loops and four guanine tetrads were found to be stable under physiological conditions through UV-VIS thermal denaturation studies. Quadruplexes were stabilized by potassium more than sodium, with increased stability when both were present. While longer recognition loops were less stable relative to shorter loops, the longer loops had a proportionally larger stabilizing effect from sodium and potassium in combination. Loop complementarity was found to have a moderate reduction of quadruplex stability.

Design and characterization of a dual-loop G-quadruplex for molecular logic gates

255th National Meeting (2018)

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