The conformations of two-state DNA nanostructures can represent bits through open or closed states, representing 0 and 1 respectively. Importantly, the state of these bits can be read out in minutes using gel electrophoresis, or faster using single-molecule imaging and manipulation techniques, and multiple bits can be represented with different lengths of DNA to facilitate multiplexed information processing and readout. by changing the presence or absence of a critical molecular component, by varying the temperature, by interactions with light, or by applying mechanical force, ). These mechanical bits can be prepared in either state (0 or 1), and transitions between these states could be controlled using chemical or physical means (e.g. These nanoscale structures can switch between two distinct states, acting as a “mechanical bit” to enable the storage and processing of information (analogous to mechanical relays in the earliest digital computers). We have made three distinct realizations of this concept, as demonstrated in Figure 1.

Thus, while other schemes for representing binary data using DNA have been presented, ,, here we focus on using the geometric conformation of DNA nanostructures to encode binary values, due to the ease of both encoding and decoding information using this approach.

This switch could be in one of two states, looped or unlooped, and we observed that these conformational differences were clearly resolvable in an agarose gel ( Figure 1a). In previous work, we used DNA origami methods to construct a nanoscale mechanical switch, which we used to study the force-dependence of molecular interactions at the single-molecule level. Combining the concepts of DNA as an information processing molecule and as a structural material, we have developed a simple and powerful approach for encoding and encrypting information. With a carefully designed collection of oligonucleotides, DNA can self-assemble into 2D and 3D shapes of stunning complexity –, some of which incorporate sensing and actuation. Recently, the accessibility and versatility of DNA nanotechnology has been remarkably increased with an approach referred to as DNA origami. Not only has DNA formed a foundation for the field of biomolecular computing, but the robustness of DNA-base pairing has also led to its use as a programmable structural material to construct objects with nanoscale features. These features of DNA have been exploited to perform computations and process information –, including the hiding and encryption of secret messages –.

Two salient features of DNA make this possible: its modular construction from four distinct bases (A, C, G, T) whose sequence determines the genetic code, and the specific base pairing between complementary bases that enables hybridization into a double-stranded complex. As the blueprint for all living things, DNA has a remarkable ability to robustly store and relay information.

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