Modeling Gene Expression Instability by Programmed and Switchable Polymerization/Nicking DNA Nanomachineries

Zhixin Zhou, Daoqing Fan, Itamar Willner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Models for gene expression instability by noncanonical DNA-nanostructures are introduced. The systems consist of a promoter-template scaffold that acts as a polymerization/nicking machinery that models, in the presence of polymerase/Nt.BbvCI and dNTPs, the autonomous synthesis of displaced strands mimicking the native "genes". Incorporation of noncanonical DNA structures into the scaffolds consisting of Sr2+-ion-stabilized G-quadruplexes, T-A·T triplexes, or ATP-aptamer complexes results in the perturbation of the polymerization/nicking DNA machineries and the synthesis of displaced strands-"genes" exhibiting other structures. By the dissociation of the noncanonical blockage units, the regeneration of the synthesis of the original intact displaced strands-"genes" is demonstrated. The study introduces conceptual means to eliminate destructive gene expression instability pathways.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5046-5052
Number of pages7
JournalACS Nano
Volume14
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 28 Apr 2020

Keywords

  • aptamer
  • DNAzyme
  • G-quadruplex
  • nanotechnology
  • switch
  • triplex

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