MethyLogic: Implementation of Boolean logic using DNA methylation

Abstract

The MethyLogic method performs flexible and reversible modification of DNA in order to establish the logical value of true or false for a set of clauses. It combines both the biological meaning and experimental procedure with the logical implementation of the basic Boolean operators: OR, AND, and NOT. The original feature of methylation logic, MethyLogic, is the use of the reversibility of DNA methylation of cytosine and adenine. Logic variables can be negated by reversing the DNA methylation status. We introduce four implementation scenarios: three of them use methyl-sensitive restriction enzymes and the fourth uses methyl-binding proteins. Encoding can use either single or double-stranded DNA. In addition, we show how to solve a three variable SAT problem and how to implement a logic circuit. © 2006 Springer-Verlag.