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Controlling the reversible assembly/disassembly of multicomponent using molecular recognition in molecular robots

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Abstract

Here, we report the multicomponent assembly and disassembly processes involving DNA strand displacement to construct molecular robots. The framework for development of molecular robots designates the components as parts of the robot. Molecular recognition is used to control the reversible processes of assembly and disassembly of multiple components. The molecular recognition system identifies not only a single-strand DNA but also a microribonucleic acid as molecular stimuli to control the processes. The processes were demonstrated by gel electrophoresis, fluorescence assays, and atomic force microscopy.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Number: 22220001) from The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, Japan. The first author acknowledges financial support from the Directorate General of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Culture of The Republic of Indonesia. We are grateful to the reviewers for helpful comments on the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Wibowo Adi.

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This work was presented in part at the 20th International Symposium on Artificial Life and Robotics, Beppu, Oita, January 21–23, 2015.

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Adi, W., Sekiyama, K. Controlling the reversible assembly/disassembly of multicomponent using molecular recognition in molecular robots. Artif Life Robotics 20, 228–236 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10015-015-0225-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10015-015-0225-x

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