In vitro selection was used to identify deoxyribozymes that ligate two RNA substrates. In the ligation reaction, a 2'-5' RNA phosphodiester linkage is created from a 2',3'-cyclic phosphate and a 5'-hydroxyl group. The new Mg(2+)-dependent deoxyribozymes provide 50-60% yield of ligated RNA in overnight incubations at pH 7.5 and 37 degrees C, and they afford 40-50% yield in 1 h at pH 9.0 and 37 degrees C. Various RNA substrate sequences may be joined by simple Watson-Crick covaration of the DNA binding arms that interact with the two RNA substrates. The current deoxyribozymes have some RNA substrate sequence requirements at the nucleotides immediately surrounding the ligation junction (either UAUA GGAA or UAUN GGAA, where the arrow denotes the ligation site and N equals any nucleotide). One of the new deoxyribozymes was used to prepare by ligation the Tetrahymena group I intron RNA P4-P6 domain, a representative structured RNA. Nondenaturing gel electrophoresis revealed that a 2'-5' linkage between nucleotides A233 and G234 of P4-P6 does not disrupt its Mg(2+)-dependent folding (DeltaDeltaG degrees ' < 0.2 kcal/mol). This demonstrates that a 2'-5' linkage does not necessarily interfere with structure in a folded RNA. Therefore, these non-native linkages may be acceptable in modified RNAs when structure/function relationships are investigated. Deoxyribozymes that ligate RNA should be particularly useful for preparing site-specifically modified RNAs for studies of RNA structure, folding, and catalysis.

Nanoscale sensing elements offer promise for single-molecule analyte detection in physically or biologically constrained environments. Single-walled carbon nanotubes have several advantages when used as optical sensors, such as photostable near-infrared emission for prolonged detection through biological media and single-molecule sensitivity. Molecular adsorption can be transduced into an optical signal by perturbing the electronic structure of the nanotubes. Here, we show that a pair of single-walled nanotubes provides at least four modes that can be modulated to uniquely fingerprint agents by the degree to which they alter either the emission band intensity or wavelength. We validate this identification method in vitro by demonstrating the detection of six genotoxic analytes, including chemotherapeutic drugs and reactive oxygen species, which are spectroscopically differentiated into four distinct classes, and also demonstrate single-molecule sensitivity in detecting hydrogen peroxide. Finally, we detect and identify these analytes in real time within live 3T3 cells, demonstrating multiplexed optical detection from a nanoscale biosensor and the first label-free tool to optically discriminate between genotoxins.

Deoxyribozymes (DNA catalysts) have been reported for cleavage of RNA phosphodiester linkages, but cleaving peptide or DNA phosphodiester linkages is much more challenging. Using in vitro selection, here we identified deoxyribozymes that sequence-specifically hydrolyze DNA with multiple turnover and rate enhancement of 108 (possibly as high as 1014). The new DNA catalysts require both Mn2+ and Zn2+, which is intriguing because many natural DNA nucleases are bimetallic protein enzymes.

Over the last decade, many catalytically active DNA molecules (deoxyribozymes; DNA enzymes) have been identified by in vitro selection from random-sequence DNA pools. This article focuses on deoxyribozymes that cleave RNA substrates. The first DNA enzyme was reported in 1994 and cleaves an RNA linkage. Since that time, many other RNA-cleaving deoxyribozymes have been identified. Most but not all of these deoxyribozymes require a divalent metal ion cofactor such as Mg2+ to catalyze attack by a specific RNA 2′-hydroxyl group on the adjacent phosphodiester linkage, forming a 2′,3′-cyclic phosphate and a 5′-hydroxyl group. Several deoxyribozymes that cleave RNA have utility for in vitro RNA biochemistry. Some DNA enzymes have been applied in vivo to degrade mRNAs, and others have been engineered into sensors. The practical impact of RNA-cleaving deoxyribozymes should continue to increase as additional applications are developed.

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