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An Epigenetics-Inspired DNA-Based Data Storage System.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Mayer, Clemens 
McInroy, Gordon R 
Murat, Pierre 
Van Delft, Pieter 
Balasubramanian, Shankar  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0281-5815

Abstract

Biopolymers are an attractive alternative to store and circulate information. DNA, for example, combines remarkable longevity with high data storage densities and has been demonstrated as a means for preserving digital information. Inspired by the dynamic, biological regulation of (epi)genetic information, we herein present how binary data can undergo controlled changes when encoded in synthetic DNA strands. By exploiting differential kinetics of hydrolytic deamination reactions of cytosine and its naturally occurring derivatives, we demonstrate how multiple layers of information can be stored in a single DNA template. Moreover, we show that controlled redox reactions allow for interconversion of these DNA-encoded layers of information. Overall, such interlacing of multiple messages on synthetic DNA libraries showcases the potential of chemical reactions to manipulate digital information on (bio)polymers.

Description

Keywords

DNA, epigenetics, information storage, sequencing, supramolecular chemistry, Biopolymers, DNA, Epigenomics, Information Storage and Retrieval

Journal Title

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1433-7851
1521-3773

Volume Title

55

Publisher

Wiley
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (099232/Z/12/Z)
European Research Council (339778)
Cancer Research UK (18618)
C.M. is grateful for the financial support by the Swiss National Science Foundation (grant number P2EZP2_152216). G.R.M. was supported by funding from Trinity College, Cambridge, the Herchel Smith fund and the Wellcome Trust. P.M. was funded by the Wellcome Trust and is currently supported by an ERC Advanced grant. P.V.D was funded by the Wellcome Trust and a Marie Curie Fellow of the European Union (grant number FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IEF/624885). The S.B. lab is supported by a program grant and core funding from Cancer Research UK (C9681/A18618), an ERC Advanced grant (339778) and by a Senior Investigator Award of the Wellcome Trust (099232/Z/12/Z). We thank Eun-Ang Raiber and Dario Beraldi for stimulating discussions and proofreading the manuscript.