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Updated: Feb 15, 2026

A Multi-compartment CNS Neuron-glia Co-culture Microfluidic Platform
Published on: September 10, 2009
A DNA-scaffold platform enhances a multi-enzymatic cycling reaction
Yasumasa Mashimo1, Masayasu Mie1, Eiry Kobatake2
1Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259, Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama-Shi, 226-8502, Japan.
Objective:
We explored the co-localization of multiple enzymes on a DNA backbone via a DNA-binding protein, Gene-A* (A*-tag) to increase the efficiency of cascade enzymatic reactions.
Results:
Firefly luciferase (FLuc) and pyruvate orthophosphate dikinase (PPDK) were genetically fused with A*-tag and modified with single-stranded (ss) DNA via A*-tag. The components were assembled on ssDNA by hybridization, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the cascading bioluminescent reaction producing light emission from pyrophosphate. The activity of A*-tag in each enzyme was investigated with dye-labeled DNA. Co-localization of the enzymes via hybridization was examined using a gel shift assay. The multi-enzyme complex showed significant improvement in the overall efficiency of the cascading reaction in comparison to a mixture of free enzymes.
Conclusion:
A*-tag is highly convenient for ssDNA modification of versatile enzymes, and it can be used for construction of functional DNA-enzyme complexes.
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