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Related Concept Videos

DNA Topoisomerases02:02

DNA Topoisomerases

Topoisomerases are enzymes that relax overwound DNA molecules during various cell processes, including DNA replication and transcription. These enzymes regulate positive and negative DNA supercoiling without changing the nucleotide sequence. DNA overwinding in a clockwise direction results in positively supercoiled DNA, whereas underwinding in a counterclockwise direction produces negatively supercoiled DNA.
Types and Mechanism of action
Topoisomerases are divided into two main types.  Type I...
Restriction Enzymes01:11

Restriction 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...
DNA Helicases00:55

DNA Helicases

DNA unwinding helicase enzymes are a type of motor protein. Motor proteins can translocate along filaments or polymers using energy generated from ATP hydrolysis. Helicases are involved in all the important cellular processes where DNA unwinding is required, such as DNA replication, repair, recombination, and transcription. They are present in all living organisms, but vary in their structure, function, and mechanism of action. For example, in prokaryotes, DnaB helicase binds and translocates...
Translesion DNA Polymerases02:10

Translesion DNA Polymerases

Translesion (TLS) polymerases rescue stalled DNA polymerases at sites of damaged bases by replacing the replicative polymerase and installing a nucleotide across the damaged site. Doing so, TLS allows additional time for the cell to repair the damage before resuming regular DNA replication.
TLS polymerases are found in all three domains of life - archaea, bacteria, and eukaryotes. Of the different classes of TLS polymerases, members of the Y family are fitted with specialized structures that...
Ribozymes02:47

Ribozymes

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...

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DNAzyme 10-23 - Based Nanomachines for Nucleic Acid Recognition
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Published on: February 9, 2024

Ion-induced DNAzyme switches.

Simcha Shimron1, Johann Elbaz, Anja Henning

  • 1Institute of Chemistry, Farkas Center for Light-Induced Processes, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.

Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|May 6, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Magnesium-dependent DNAzymes activity is controlled by specific ion interactions. Thymine-mercury-thymine and cytosine-silver-cytosine complexes enable reversible switching of DNAzyme function.

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Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • DNAzymes are catalytic DNA molecules with diverse applications.
  • Controlling DNAzyme activity is crucial for developing sophisticated molecular tools.
  • Ion-mediated interactions offer a promising strategy for regulating biomolecular function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the reversible switching of Mg(2+)-dependent DNAzymes using specific ion-thymine and ion-cytosine complexes.
  • To demonstrate a novel method for controlling DNAzyme activity through external stimuli.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Mg(2+)-dependent DNAzymes as the catalytic system.
  • Incorporated thymine-Hg(2+)-thymine and cytosine-Ag(+)-cytosine complexes to mediate ion stimuli.
  • Performed activity assays to monitor the reversible switching of DNAzyme function.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated that Mg(2+)-dependent DNAzymes activity can be reversibly switched.
  • Showcased the efficacy of thymine-Hg(2+)-thymine complexes in controlling DNAzyme function.
  • Confirmed that cytosine-Ag(+)-cytosine complexes also enable reversible switching of DNAzyme activity.

Conclusions:

  • Ion-responsive elements, specifically thymine-Hg(2+)-thymine and cytosine-Ag(+)-cytosine complexes, provide effective control over Mg(2+)-dependent DNAzyme activity.
  • This reversible switching mechanism opens avenues for designing responsive DNAzyme-based biosensors and nanodevices.