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Engineering polymerases for applications in synthetic biology
Ali Nikoomanzar1, Nicholas Chim1, Eric J Yik1
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA92697-3958, USA.
Quarterly Reviews of Biophysics
|July 28, 2020
Summary
Engineered DNA polymerases overcome natural substrate limitations for advanced biomedical applications. Enzyme engineering enables synthetic biology by creating novel DNA polymerases for custom genetic material synthesis and evolution.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Synthetic Biology
Background:
- DNA polymerases are crucial enzymes for genetic information transfer and have numerous laboratory applications.
- Natural DNA polymerases exhibit high substrate specificity, limiting their use with modified substrates.
- Advancements in enzyme engineering are needed to overcome these limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of enzyme-engineering technologies for creating DNA polymerases with tailor-made activities.
- To enable the synthesis, replication, and evolution of synthetic genetic polymers with novel properties.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing sophisticated enzyme-engineering technologies.
- Directing the evolution of DNA polymerases for altered substrate specificities.
Main Results:
- Engineered DNA polymerases demonstrate broadened substrate acceptance.
- Developed enzymes facilitate the synthesis and replication of non-natural DNA polymers.
Conclusions:
- Enzyme engineering is key to expanding the utility of DNA polymerases beyond natural substrates.
- Engineered polymerases are poised to drive innovation in synthetic biology and the creation of novel genetic materials.
Keywords:
AptamersSELEXXNAzymescatalystspolymerase engineeringsynthetic biologyxeno-nucleic acid (XNA)More Related Videos
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