Optochemical Control of DNA-Switching Circuits for Logic and Probabilistic Computation

Precise control of DNA-circuit functions facilitates the construction of complex DNA networks to perform sophisticated functions. Inspired by optochemical genetics with high precision for controlling and studying neural networks by photoregulation of membrane receptors, we herein report optochemically controlled DNA switching circuits for regulating computation functions. The DNA-switching circuits involve a CG–C⁺ triplex-based DNA switch that undergoes structural transition from triplex to duplex states after exposure to UV irradiation due to proton transfer, showing optochemical control. We demonstrate that the DNA-switching circuits enable the regulation of computation functions by optochemical control of the state of the DNA switch, including multiple logic computations and probabilistic computation. We hope this work will broaden DNA-circuit functions and facilitate the construction of complex DNA networks.