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Updated: May 22, 2026
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DNA-Tethered RNA Polymerase for Programmable In vitro Transcription and Molecular Computation
Published on: December 29, 2021
Dephosphorylation-regulated MNAzyme-PER cascade as a programmable converter for multi-task molecular actuation.
Yaoyi Zhang1, Yiqi Zhang1, Jianbo Jiang1
1Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics (Chinese Ministry of Education), College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China.
Journal of Nanobiotechnology
|May 21, 2026
Summary
A novel dephosphorylation-regulated MNAzyme-primer exchange reaction (Dp-PER) strategy suppresses signal leakage in DNA amplification systems. This programmable system enables versatile biosensing and molecular computation applications.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
- DNA Nanotechnology
Background:
- Nucleic acid conformation and enzyme dynamics are key to programmable amplification systems.
- Existing systems face challenges in signal leakage and modular expansion.
- Sophisticated molecular functions in cascade networks require improved coordination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a dephosphorylation-regulated MNAzyme-primer exchange reaction (Dp-PER) strategy.
- To suppress signal leakage using a cyclic phosphate-locked conformation.
- To create a programmable system for diverse molecular sensing and computation.
Main Methods:
- Developed a Dp-PER strategy utilizing cyclic phosphate-locked conformations.
- Incorporated upstream primer formulation and an enzyme-orchestrated cascade.
- Connected upstream networks to the PER circuit via dephosphorylation-induced conformational release.
Main Results:
- The Dp-PER strategy effectively suppresses signal leakage.
- The system demonstrated logical operations (YES, NOT, OR, AND, INHIBIT).
- Achieved multifunctional biosensing for nucleic acids and enzymes.
- Enabled nanostructure cascading with tetrahedral DNA.
Conclusions:
- The MNAzyme-PER enzymatic cascade is a scalable and compatible system.
- It acts as a universal converter in hierarchical DNA networks.
- Provides a versatile foundation for programmable biosensing and molecular computation.
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