Complex patterns in a trans-cooperatively coupled DNA amplification system

An isothermal biochemical in vitro amplification system with two trans-coop eratively coupled amplifying DNA molecules was investigated as a simple rea ction-diffusion system. In a model of the recently developed experimental s ystem, no reaction mechanism higher than second-order occurs, Numerical sim ulations in two spatial dimensions show a variety of complex spatiotemporal patterns which arise in response to finite amplitude perturbations. In a c ertain domain of the kinetic parameters, the system shows self-replicating spots. These spots are supposed to stabilize the cooperative amplification in evolving systems against emerging parasites. The results are of high rel evance for experimental studies of evolutionary effects of the system in op en two-dimensional reaction-diffusion reactors. For experimental spatially resolved evolution studies one- and two-dimensional microstructured flow re actors were designed, which enable the continuous influx of reactants, homo geneous flow through the active reaction layer and the removal of reaction products. First experimental results show homogeneous as well as inhomogene ous amplification of the biochemical system in microstructured reactors. (C ) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.