Molecular surgery of DNA

In this paper, we propose and experimentally demonstrate 'molecular surgery of DNA', where DNA strand is stretched straight and immobilized on a solid surface, to which an enzyme-labeled micro particle is brought into contact, to make chemical modifications at an arbitrary position on the strand. An electrode array, whose spacing is made equal to the length of DNA, is micro-patterned on a glass surface. The electrodes are energized by a high frequency power supply, to create >= 1 MV/m, approximately equals 1 MHz electrostatic field in the gap. DNA supplied in the gap is stretched straight by the high-intensity field and both termini of the DNA strand are pulled into the electrode edges. As a result, the strand is anchored at both molecular ends bridging over two adjacent electrodes, but the middle part is free, so that the enzyme can bind and react. An enzyme-labeled micro bead, 1-3 micrometers in diameter, is laser-manipulated, and contacted on the immobilized DNA. Using DNase II and HhaI as the enzyme, cutting of DNA is experimentally demonstrated.