Analysis on breathing dynamics of DNA circuits

It is still not clear whether terahertz (THz) radiation can drive DNA pairing/unpairing phenomenon (breathing). Based on the assumption that DNA breathers can be generated when the system has the property to realize self-excited oscillations in the presence of the THz field, we investigate the possibility of THz control of DNA circuits with logic gates such as intelligent sensors. Our simulation results using the van der Pol equation suggest that self-excited oscillations can lead the large amplitude of vibration to create an initial stretch necessary to generate DNA breathers under appropriate nonlinear damping conditions. When the DNA structure can be designed to have such mechanisms for self-excited oscillations in the THz field, THz waves will provide a new effective method to regulate the DNA devices through the control of DNA breathing.