Novel Design of DNA Constant-Signal Generator Towards an Experimental Feasibility

Dynamics DNA nanotechnology is currently the most common method for designing molecular circuits, referred to as DNA circuits, which can process complex information by utilizing DNA strands as information molecules. However, DNA circuits are highly retroactive, that is, they have low modularity, which is a significant limitation in rational circuit design in the field of DNA computing. A common issue is the significant decrease in the input signal applied to the circuit, which causes serious errors in arithmetic circuits, where fluctuations in the input levels can result in incorrect outcomes. Currently, there is no DNA signal generator that can produce a constant input. In this study, we developed a practical design for a constant-signal generator based on a DNA strand displacement mechanism to address the issue of decreasing input signals caused by low modularity in DNA circuits. Notably, the proposed constant-signal generator had low retroactivity and was therefore highly independent, enabling the maintenance of the desired performance even when DNA circuits were connected as loads.