DNA Strand-Displacement Timer Circuits

Chemical circuits can coordinate elaborate sequences of events in cells and tissues, from the self-assembly of biological complexes to the sequence of embryonic development. However, autonomously directing the timing of events in synthetic systems using chemical signals remains challenging. Here we demonstrate that a simple synthetic DNA strand-displacement circuit can release target sequences of DNA into solution at a constant rate after a tunable delay that can range from hours to days. The rates of DNA release can be tuned to the order of 1-100 nM per day. Multiple timer circuits can release different DNA strands at different rates and times in the same solution. This circuit can thus facilitate precise coordination of chemical events in vitro without external stimulation.