Few-Layer Black Phosphorus as an Artificial Substrate for DNA Replication

Abstract

DNA replication is the basis for biological inheritance in nature. The plasma membrane of prokaryotic bacteria might provide a supporting surface for the attachment of either polymerase or DNA during in vivo DNA replication. In order to understand that fixing DNA or polymerase on the membrane is important for highly efficient DNA replication, we develop a system to mimic prokaryotic DNA replication. We introduce a two-dimensional nanomaterial, few-layer black phosphorus (BP), which shares some similar properties with bacteria plasma membrane in dimension, surface group, surface charge, hydrophilicity, and thickness. Either polymerase or DNA primer is immobilized on a BP surface to initiate in vitro DNA replication. The results show that BP could promote DNA replication with high efficiency in both cases. The DNA yield is increased to more than 6 times and nonspecific products are reduced significantly. This discovery might deepen our understanding about the role of immobilization of the replication component on the membrane and application of BP as an artificial substrate for DNA replication.

Two-Dimensional Layered Materials Offering Expanded Applications in Flatland

“…In biosensing applications, BP nanosheets can be passivated and encapsulated using optically active polypeptide micelles . BP has also been used as an efficient artificial substrate for DNA replication . Layered transition-metal oxides have been less explored; one of the reasons could be their wide band gap, which renders them electrically insulating. − However, a new study has shown that n-type conduction can be induced in α-MoO 3 either by H + -ion intercalation, which creates oxygen vacancies, or by fluorine doping .…”

2D Black Phosphorus-Based Cytomembrane Mimics with Stimuli-Responsive Antibacterial Action Inspired by Endotoxin-Associated Toxic Behavior

“…16,17 We were drawn to the possibility of using BP to mimic phospholipid plasma membranes. 18 The structure of BP is similar to phospholipid plasma membranes (Figure 1) in the following aspects: (i) Both BP nanosheets and cytomembranes are flat, two-dimensional (2D) structures with large specific surface areas, yielding abundant sites for various biological reactions. (ii) BP and cytomembranes are mainly composed of phosphorus, and their surfaces include a large number of phosphate groups.…”

“…Black phosphorus (BP) has attracted great attention in the biomedical field, including antitumor and antibacterial applications, due to its excellent photothermal and photodynamic properties − and remarkable biocompatibility and biodegradability. , We were drawn to the possibility of using BP to mimic phospholipid plasma membranes . The structure of BP is similar to phospholipid plasma membranes (Figure ) in the following aspects: (i) Both BP nanosheets and cytomembranes are flat, two-dimensional (2D) structures with large specific surface areas, yielding abundant sites for various biological reactions.…”