Blog: Computing With RNA

Computing With RNA
Technology Review (10/17/08) Graham-Rowe
California Institute of Technology (Caltech) researchers Christina Smolke and Maung Nyan Win have created molecular computers that can self-assemble from strips of RNA within living cells. The Weizmann Institute of Science's Ehud Shapiro says the research creates the possibility of computing devices capable of responding to specific conditions within a cell, and could lead to drug delivery systems that target cancer cells by sensing genes used to regulate cell growth and death. Smolke and Win's biocomputers are built using three main components--sensors, actuators, and transmitters--all made from RNA. The input sensors are made from RNA molecules that act like antibodies, binding tightly to specific targets. The actuators are made of ribozymes, complex RNA molecules that have catalytic properties similar to enzymes. These two components are combined with another RNA molecule that serves as a transmitter. It is activated when a sensor molecule recognizes an input chemical and triggers an actuator molecule. By combining RNA molecules in certain ways, the researchers demonstrated that they can get them to behave like different types of logic gates. Smolke says the modular molecules have a plug-and-play like capability, which allows them to be combined in different ways and could potentially be used to detect thousands of different metabolic or protein inputs.

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