Molecular surgery based on microsystems

The authors use high-intensity high-frequency electric field (/spl ges/10/sup 6/ V/m, /spl ap/1 MHz) created in micro-machined structures to (1) stretch DNA molecules to a straight conformation, (2) align parallel to the field, and (3) position and immobilize onto a substrate. Once stretch-and-positioned, one has an access to arbitrary positions on any one of the molecules, so that space-resolved modification of the chemical structure (Molecular Surgery) becomes possible. Dissection of stretch-and-positioned DNA has been demonstrated with the use of (1) ultra-violet laser beam, (2) AFM tip as a machining tool, or (3) enzyme immobilized probes.