Software-controlled assembly of oligomers

我们打算创造一种分子机器，在软件控制下制造新材料。机器的输出将是由共价键连接的积木链。该机器是模块化的，设计用于接受许多不同的构建块，从小分子到纳米颗粒，具有广泛的物理和化学性质。为了推动它的发展，我们将集中精力用它来制造两种目标产品：一种是能够传输能量和电荷的分子线，另一种是催化剂。软件控制从最终用户对一系列构建块的说明开始。目标序列被编码在机器可以读取的指令带中：该指令带本身就是一种分子，一种人工合成的DNA低聚物。构建块的目标序列自动转换为DNA碱基的控制序列，并且磁带由商业固相合成生产。机器的工作是读取指令带，并按规定的顺序在构件之间形成键。这个分子工厂的每一个组成部分本身就是一个分子：我们的目标是将这个系统发展到可以作为塑料小瓶中的化学物质分发给最终用户的程度。

We propose to create a molecular machine that will build new materials under software control. The output of the machine will be chains of building blocks linked by covalent bonds. The machine is modular and is designed to accept many different building blocks, from small molecules to nanoparticles, with a wide range of physical and chemical properties. In order to drive its development we will concentrate on using it to create two target products: a molecular wire, capable of transporting energy and electrical charge, and a catalyst. Software control starts with specification by the end-user of a sequence of building blocks. The target sequence is encoded in an instruction tape which can be read by the machine: the tape is itself a molecule, a synthetic DNA oligomer. The target sequence of building blocks is automatically converted into a control sequence of DNA bases, and the tape is produced by commercial solid-phase synthesis. The job of the machine is to read the instruction tape and to form the bonds between building blocks in the specified sequence. Every component of this molecular factory is itself a molecule: our ambition is to develop the system to the point where it could be distributed to end users as chemicals in plastic vials.