Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2025
09:26
DNA-Tethered RNA Polymerase for Programmable In vitro Transcription and Molecular Computation
Published on: December 29, 2021
4.1K
Photo-Switching from Enzymatic Reaction to DNA Self-Assembly Enabled by a Caged Cationic Copolymer
Yuki Hirayama1, Atsushi Maruyama1, Naohiko Shimada1
1Department of Life Science and Technology, Institute of Science Tokyo, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8501, Japan.
Biomacromolecules
|April 10, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed a photoactivatable graft copolymer to control DNA reactions. This tool enables remote switching between DNA polymerization and strand displacement, advancing DNA nanodevice development.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Nanotechnology
- Synthetic Biology
Background:
- DNA nanodevices utilize enzymatic and self-assembly reactions.
- Controlling these reactions in time and space is crucial for advanced nanodevices.
- Previously, cationic graft copolymers were shown to modulate DNA reactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a photoactivatable graft copolymer for spatiotemporal control of DNA reactions.
- To enable switching between enzymatic and self-assembly reactions using light.
- To create a tool for advanced DNA nanodevice construction.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of a photoactivatable graft copolymer with photocleavable protecting groups.
- Testing the copolymer's effect on polymerase reactions (enzymatic) and toehold-mediated strand displacement (self-assembly).
- Investigating the effect of UV irradiation on copolymer activity.
Main Results:
- The caged copolymer did not inhibit polymerase reactions or activate strand displacement.
- UV irradiation uncaged the copolymer, inhibiting polymerase activity.
- UV irradiation also activated toehold-mediated strand displacement reactions.
- Remote switching from polymerization to strand displacement was achieved via photoirradiation.
Conclusions:
- Photoactivatable graft copolymers offer precise spatiotemporal control over DNA reactions.
- This technology facilitates the dynamic switching between enzymatic and self-assembly processes.
- The developed tool advances the design and fabrication of sophisticated DNA nanodevices.
