DNAzyme is a single-stranded DNA fragment characterized by its high catalytic activity and structural recognition capabilities, which are achieved through in vitro molecular evolutionary techniques. The active site of DNAzyme can differentiate between substrates at the atomic level and catalyze similar reactions. Leveraging our advanced synthesis and analytical technology platform, CD Formulation offers tailored, comprehensive solutions for DNAzyme to expedite our customers' nucleic acid drug discovery and development processes.
DNAzymes, or catalytic DNA, are short, single-stranded DNA enzymes that fold into active three-dimensional structures, enabling various biochemical reactions. Compared to enzymes composed of proteins or RNA, DNAzymes are more stable and easier to synthesize and amplify in vitro due to their DNA chemical structure. Furthermore, DNAzymes can exhibit the same or even superior catalytic activity and specificity compared to other natural enzymes. As a result, DNAzymes have significant applications in biochemical fields such as bioimaging, detection, and sensing.
DNAzymes are derived from random sequence DNA using in vitro selection, a powerful method for isolating rare DNA or RNA sequences with specific functions from a large pool of single-stranded molecules.
The first method involves the rational design of the DNAzyme binding arm. However, the catalytic core of the DNAzyme must be known in advance. The sequences of the binding arms can be designed similarly to the primers used in polymerase chain reaction (PCR), where their specificity directs the DNAzyme to its target.
SELEX, or Systematic Ligand Evolution by Exponential Enrichment, involves a large pool of random nucleic acids. Any nucleic acid that can form a complex with the target molecule is isolated, amplified through PCR, and pooled together to create a new library for subsequent rounds of SELEX selection. Typically, 5 to 15 rounds of screening are conducted, and the final nucleic acids obtained are potential candidates. Instead of rationally designing DNAzymes that utilize known DNAzyme catalytic cores, SELEX identifies novel DNAzymes and catalytic cores.
Fig.1 Flow chart of DNAzyme preparation. (CD Formulation)
An in-depth analysis of target RNA or DNA sequences is conducted to evaluate potential targets and their structural features, which helps determine the most effective design strategy.
The design of specific DNAzyme sequences utilizing bioinformatics tools to ensure optimal catalytic activity and target specificity.
Synthesize the desired DNAzyme using either chemical synthesis or enzymatic synthesis based on the designed sequence.
Verify the structure and purity of the synthesized DNAzyme using experimental techniques such as gel electrophoresis and conformational analysis to ensure it meets the design requirements.
Evaluate the catalytic activity and specificity of DNAzymes in in vitro experiments to assess their cleavage efficiency on target RNA or DNA.
Based on the results of the activity test, implement the necessary optimizations and adjustments to enhance its catalytic efficiency and specificity.
CD Formulation's DNAzyme synthesis technology platform provides tailored solutions for DNAzyme creation and optimization. Our integrated approach ensures accurate, reliable and scalable DNAzyme production.
Technology: DNAzymes development through transcription technology
Journal: Scientific reports
IF: 3.5
Published: 2017
Results:
The authors designed a series of candidate DNAzyme spanning different exons of ITGA4. RNV143, a 30mer-armed, circular-armed DNAzymes, was shown to efficiently cleave 84% of ITGA4 mRNA in human primary fibroblasts. rNV143 was then systematically modified by increasing the length of the arms on either side of the DNA enzyme by one, two, and three nucleotides, respectively, and by adding chemical modifications such as inverted-dT, phosphorothioate backbone, and LNA. RNV143 was then systematically modified by increasing the length of both arms of the DNA enzyme by one, two, and three nucleotides, respectively, and adding chemical modifications such as inverse-dT, phosphorothioate backbone, and LNA nucleotides. Increasing the arm length of the DNA enzyme RNV143 did not improve its efficiency, but the inverted-dT modification was the most resistant to the 3'→5' exonuclease compared to the other modifications tested.
Fig.2 Schematic illustration of DNAzyme-based mRNA cleavage. (Chakravarthy M, et al., 2017)
CD Formulation offers customized services for DNAzymes, including design, screening, and optimization, through a specialized biotechnology platform. Contact us, and we will help you find innovative solutions.
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