Three dimensional DNA structures in computing

Biosystems. 1999 Oct;52(1-3):143-53. doi: 10.1016/s0303-2647(99)00041-6.

Abstract

We show that 3-dimensional graph structures can be used for solving computational problems with DNA molecules. Vertex building blocks consisting of k-armed (k = 3 or 4) branched junction molecules are used to form graphs. We present procedures for the 3-SAT and 3-vertex-colorability problems. Construction of one graph structure (in many copies) is sufficient to determine the solution to the problem. In our proposed procedure for 3-SAT, the number of steps required is equal to the number of variables in the formula. For the 3-vertex-colorability problem, the procedure requires a constant number of steps regardless of the size of the graph.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Computational Biology*
  • Computer Simulation*
  • DNA / analysis*
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation

Substances

  • DNA