Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026
03:38
Aptamer-Based Target Detection Facilitated by a 3-Stage G-Quadruplex Isothermal Exponential Amplification Reaction
Published on: October 6, 2022
Identification of efficient and sequence specific bimolecular artificial ribonucleases by a combinatorial approach
Marcin Kalek1, Peter Benediktson, Birte Vester
1The Nucleic Acid Center, Department of Physics and Chemistry, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5230, Odense M, Denmark.
Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|May 16, 2008
Summary
Researchers created a novel artificial nuclease by chemically modifying nucleotide monomers. This new enzyme demonstrates high catalytic activity and turnover for RNA targets.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Synthetic Chemistry
Background:
- Oligonucleotides are short DNA or RNA strands.
- Artificial nucleases are enzymes engineered to cleave nucleic acids.
- Developing efficient artificial nucleases is crucial for molecular biology applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a highly active artificial nuclease.
- To investigate the efficacy of chemically modified nucleotide monomers in nuclease design.
- To explore combinations of catalytic units for optimal enzymatic activity.
Main Methods:
- Chemically modified nucleotide monomers were synthesized.
- Modified monomers were incorporated into terminal positions of two oligonucleotides.
- Oligonucleotides were designed to be complementary to an RNA target.
- Various combinations of catalytic units were tested.
Main Results:
- An artificial nuclease was successfully constructed.
- The developed nuclease exhibited high catalytic activity.
- The enzyme demonstrated significant catalytic turnover rates.
- The combination of modified monomers enhanced nuclease performance.
Conclusions:
- Chemically modified nucleotide monomers can be effectively incorporated into oligonucleotides to create active artificial nucleases.
- The designed artificial nuclease shows promise for applications requiring precise RNA cleavage.
- Further research can explore diverse modifications and target specificities.
Related Concept Videos
02:47Ribozymes
The term ribozyme is used for RNA that can act as an enzyme. Ribozymes are mainly found in selected viruses, bacteria, plant organelles, and lower eukaryotes. Ribozymes were first discovered in 1982 when Tom Cech’s laboratory observed Group I introns acting as enzymes. This was shortly followed by the discovery of another ribozyme, Ribonulcease P, by Sid Altman’s laboratory. Both Cech and Altman received the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1989 for their work on ribozymes.
Ribozymes can be...
Ribozymes can be...
01:11Restriction Enzymes
Restriction enzymes are bacterial enzymes used to cut DNA in a sequence-specific manner. To cleave DNA, they bind to specific palindromic sequences called restriction sites. Such palindromic DNA sequences or inverted repeats are commonly found in regions of functional significance, such as the origin of replication, gene operator sites, and regions containing transcription termination signals.
The host bacteria protect their own genomic DNA from these enzymes by methylating these sites. Some...
The host bacteria protect their own genomic DNA from these enzymes by methylating these sites. Some...