Cited by 83DNA and Biological ComputingCRISPR and Genetic EngineeringAdvanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques

Robust direct digital-to-biological data storage in living cells.

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Yim, Sung Sun, McBee, Ross M., Song, Alan M., Huang, Yiming, Sheth, Ravi U., Wang, Harris H.·2021·Nature Chemical Biology

Abstract

DNA has been the predominant information storage medium for biology and holds great promise as a next-generation high-density data medium in the digital era. Currently, the vast majority of DNA-based data storage approaches rely on in vitro DNA synthesis. As such, there are limited methods to encode digital data into the chromosomes of living cells in a single step. Here, we describe a new electrogenetic framework for direct storage of digital data in living cells. Using an engineered redox-responsive CRISPR adaptation system, we encoded binary data in 3-bit units into CRISPR arrays of bacterial cells by electrical stimulation. We demonstrate multiplex data encoding into barcoded cell populations to yield meaningful information storage and capacity up to 72 bits, which can be maintained over many generations in natural open environments. This work establishes a direct digital-to-biological data storage framework and advances our capacity for information exchange between silicon- and carbon-based entities.

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  • Electrical signals were used to regulate redox reactions in cells, causing changes in plasmid copy number, and used to control trapping frequency of different sequences by Cas proteins to achieve one-step storage of data in cells.

    “Yim et al. (2021) used electrical signals to regulate redox reactions in cells, thus causing changes in plasmid copy number, and then used it to control the trapping frequency of different sequences by Cas proteins and to achieve one-step storage of data in cells.”

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Authors
Yim, S. S., McBee, R. M., Song, A. M., Huang, Y., Sheth, R. U., & Wang, H. H.
Affiliations
Columbia University (US)
Corresponding author
Wang, Harris H.
Venue
Nature Chemical Biology
Published
2021-01-11
Volume
17
Issue
3
Pages
246-253
ISSN
  • 1552-4450 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-4469
OpenAlex
W3121009300
Cited by
83
References
57
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 12
FWCI
4.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Chemical Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF-2017R1A6A3A03003401)
  • Hertz Foundation
  • National Science Foundation (DGE-1644869, MCB‐1453219)
  • United States Department of Defense | United States Navy | Office of Naval Research (N00014-17-1-2353)
  • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (1R01AI132403-01)
  • Burroughs Wellcome Fund (PATH1016691)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › DNA and Biological Computing
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
Keywords
DNA data storage, CRISPR arrays, electrical stimulation, CRISPR adaptation, bacterial cells
MeSH terms
Base Sequence, Carbon, DNA, Electricity, Electrons, Escherichia coli, Ferrocyanides, Humans, Oxidation-Reduction, Silicon, Information Storage and Retrieval, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis, Electrochemical Techniques, Cell Engineering, CRISPR-Cas Systems

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