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Babar V, Sharma S, Shaikh AR, Oliva R, Chawla M, Cavallo L. Detecting Hachimoji DNA: An Eight-Building-Block Genetic System with MoS 2 and Janus MoSSe Monolayers. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:21427-21437. [PMID: 38634539 PMCID: PMC11071042 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c18400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
In the pursuit of personalized medicine, the development of efficient, cost-effective, and reliable DNA sequencing technology is crucial. Nanotechnology, particularly the exploration of two-dimensional materials, has opened different avenues for DNA nucleobase detection, owing to their impressive surface-to-volume ratio. This study employs density functional theory with van der Waals corrections to methodically scrutinize the adsorption behavior and electronic band structure properties of a DNA system composed of eight hachimoji nucleotide letters adsorbed on both MoS2 and MoSSe monolayers. Through a comprehensive conformational search, we pinpoint the most favorable adsorption sites, quantifying their adsorption energies and charge transfer properties. The analysis of electronic band structure unveils the emergence of flat bands in close proximity to the Fermi level post-adsorption, a departure from the pristine MoS2 and MoSSe monolayers. Furthermore, leveraging the nonequilibrium Green's function approach, we compute the current-voltage characteristics, providing valuable insights into the electronic transport properties of the system. All hachimoji bases exhibit physisorption with a horizontal orientation on both monolayers. Notably, base G demonstrates high sensitivity on both substrates. The obtained current-voltage (I-V) characteristics, both without and with base adsorption on MoS2 and the Se side of MoSSe, affirm excellent sensing performance. This research significantly advances our understanding of potential DNA sensing platforms and their electronic characteristics, thereby propelling the endeavor for personalized medicine through enhanced DNA sequencing technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasudeo Babar
- Physical
Sciences and Engineering Division, KAUST Catalysis Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
(KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sitansh Sharma
- Department
of Research and Innovation, STEMskills Research
and Education Lab Private Limited, Faridabad, Haryana 121002, India
| | - Abdul Rajjak Shaikh
- Department
of Research and Innovation, STEMskills Research
and Education Lab Private Limited, Faridabad, Haryana 121002, India
| | - Romina Oliva
- Department
of Sciences and Technologies, University
Parthenope of Naples, Centro Direzionale Isola C4, 80143 Naples, Italy
| | - Mohit Chawla
- Physical
Sciences and Engineering Division, KAUST Catalysis Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
(KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Luigi Cavallo
- Physical
Sciences and Engineering Division, KAUST Catalysis Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
(KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
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Tellurium-Modified Nucleosides, Nucleotides, and Nucleic Acids with Potential Applications. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27238379. [PMID: 36500495 PMCID: PMC9737395 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27238379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Tellurium was successfully incorporated into proteins and applied to protein structure determination through X-ray crystallography. However, studies on tellurium modification of DNA and RNA are limited. This review highlights the recent development of Te-modified nucleosides, nucleotides, and nucleic acids, and summarizes the main synthetic approaches for the preparation of 5-PhTe, 2'-MeTe, and 2'-PhTe modifications. Those modifications are compatible with solid-phase synthesis and stable during Te-oligonucleotide purification. Moreover, the ideal electronic and atomic properties of tellurium for generating clear isomorphous signals give Te-modified DNA and RNA great potential applications in 3D crystal structure determination through X-ray diffraction. STM study also shows that Te-modified DNA has strong topographic and current peaks, which immediately suggests potential applications in nucleic acid direct imaging, nanomaterials, molecular electronics, and diagnostics. Theoretical studies indicate the potential application of Te-modified nucleosides in cancer therapy.
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Miao S, Liang Y, Rundell S, Bhunia D, Devari S, Munyaradzi O, Bong D. Unnatural bases for recognition of noncoding nucleic acid interfaces. Biopolymers 2021; 112:e23399. [PMID: 32969496 PMCID: PMC7855516 DOI: 10.1002/bip.23399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The notion of using synthetic heterocycles instead of the native bases to interface with DNA and RNA has been explored for nearly 60 years. Unnatural bases compatible with the DNA/RNA coding interface have the potential to expand the genetic code and co-opt the machinery of biology to access new macromolecular function; accordingly, this body of research is core to synthetic biology. While much of the literature on artificial bases focuses on code expansion, there is a significant and growing effort on docking synthetic heterocycles to noncoding nucleic acid interfaces; this approach seeks to illuminate major processes of nucleic acids, including regulation of transcription, translation, transport, and transcript lifetimes. These major avenues of research at the coding and noncoding interfaces have in common fundamental principles in molecular recognition. Herein, we provide an overview of foundational literature in biophysics of base recognition and unnatural bases in coding to provide context for the developing area of targeting noncoding nucleic acid interfaces with synthetic bases, with a focus on systems developed through iterative design and biophysical study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiqin Miao
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Yufeng Liang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Sarah Rundell
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Debmalya Bhunia
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Shekar Devari
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Oliver Munyaradzi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Dennis Bong
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Structural Studies of HNA Substrate Specificity in Mutants of an Archaeal DNA Polymerase Obtained by Directed Evolution. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10121647. [PMID: 33302546 PMCID: PMC7763228 DOI: 10.3390/biom10121647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Archaeal DNA polymerases from the B-family (polB) have found essential applications in biotechnology. In addition, some of their variants can accept a wide range of modified nucleotides or xenobiotic nucleotides, such as 1,5-anhydrohexitol nucleic acid (HNA), which has the unique ability to selectively cross-pair with DNA and RNA. This capacity is essential to allow the transmission of information between different chemistries of nucleic acid molecules. Variants of the archaeal polymerase from Thermococcus gorgonarius, TgoT, that can either generate HNA from DNA (TgoT_6G12) or DNA from HNA (TgoT_RT521) have been previously identified. To understand how DNA and HNA are recognized and selected by these two laboratory-evolved polymerases, we report six X-ray structures of these variants, as well as an in silico model of a ternary complex with HNA. Structural comparisons of the apo form of TgoT_6G12 together with its binary and ternary complexes with a DNA duplex highlight an ensemble of interactions and conformational changes required to promote DNA or HNA synthesis. MD simulations of the ternary complex suggest that the HNA-DNA hybrid duplex remains stable in the A-DNA helical form and help explain the presence of mutations in regions that would normally not be in contact with the DNA if it were not in the A-helical form. One complex with two incorporated HNA nucleotides is surprisingly found in a one nucleotide-backtracked form, which is new for a DNA polymerase. This information can be used for engineering a new generation of more efficient HNA polymerase variants.
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Graphene oxide and self-avoiding molecular recognition systems-assisted recombinase polymerase amplification coupled with lateral flow bioassay for nucleic acid detection. Mikrochim Acta 2020; 187:667. [PMID: 33211195 DOI: 10.1007/s00604-020-04637-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A new nucleic acid detection technique, termed Nano-SAMRS-RPA, is reported which employed carbon nanomaterial (graphene oxide, GO) and self-avoiding molecular recognition systems (SAMRS) to improve the specificity of recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA). In the presence of GO and SAMRS primers, the assay artifacts, including primer-dimers, nonspecific products, off-target hybrids, and non-canonical folds, are completely suppressed and eliminated, which makes the creation of RPA-based methods faster by simplifying the primer design and eliminating the need for primer optimization and complex probe. Moreover, a lateral flow bioassay (LFB) was also devised for simply and rapidly indicating the Nano-SAMRS-RPA results. Particularly, the new detection system only requires a single-labeled primer, eliminating the false-positive result from hybridization (the labeled probe and reverse primer) and the use of real-time instrument, more complex enzymatic solutions, and probes. As a result, GO, SAMRS primers, and LFB convert RPA from a technique suited only for the research laboratory into one that has a practical value in clinical settings, field environments, and at points-of-care testing. Human papillomaviruses (HPV) genotypes 16 and 18 were applied as model analytes to test the assay's availability. The initial data indicated that Nano-SAMRS-RPA could detect down to 10 copies per reaction, and the sensitivity (14/14 samples collected from HPV16 and HPV 18 patients) and specificity (75/75 samples collected from non-HPV patients) for clinical sample detection were 100%. The proof-of-concept technique can be reconfigured to detect various nucleic acid sequences by redesigning the specific RPA primers.Graphical abstract.
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Hibino M, Aiba Y, Shoji O. Cationic guanine: positively charged nucleobase with improved DNA affinity inhibits self-duplex formation. Chem Commun (Camb) 2020; 56:2546-2549. [PMID: 32040115 DOI: 10.1039/d0cc00169d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Oligonucleotides represent powerful DNA-recognition tools, but the formation of undesirable "self-duplexes" becomes more probable with increasing DNA affinity. Herein, we have developed a modified nucleobase with "self-avoiding" properties. Facile methylation of guanine yields a cationic N7-methylguanine, which suppresses the formation of self-duplexes whilst improving DNA affinity through electrostatic interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Hibino
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8601, Japan.
| | - Yuichiro Aiba
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8601, Japan.
| | - Osami Shoji
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8601, Japan.
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Yang Z, Le JT, Hutter D, Bradley KM, Overton BR, McLendon C, Benner SA. Eliminating primer dimers and improving SNP detection using self-avoiding molecular recognition systems. Biol Methods Protoc 2020; 5:bpaa004. [PMID: 32395633 PMCID: PMC7200914 DOI: 10.1093/biomethods/bpaa004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite its widespread value to molecular biology, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) encounters modes that unproductively consume PCR resources and prevent clean signals, especially when high sensitivity, high SNP discrimination, and high multiplexing are sought. Here, we show how "self-avoiding molecular recognition systems" (SAMRS) manage such difficulties. SAMRS nucleobases pair with complementary nucleotides with strengths comparable to the A:T pair, but do not pair with other SAMRS nucleobases. This should allow primers holding SAMRS components to avoid primer-primer interactions, preventing primer dimers, allowing more sensitive SNP detection, and supporting higher levels of multiplex PCR. The experiments here examine the PCR performances of primers containing different numbers of SAMRS components placed strategically at different positions, and put these performances in the context of estimates of SAMRS:standard pairing strengths. The impact of these variables on primer dimer formation, the overall efficiency and sensitivity of SAMRS-based PCR, and the value of SAMRS primers when detecting single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are also evaluated. With appropriately chosen polymerases, SNP discrimination can be greater than the conventional allele-specific PCR, with the further benefit of avoiding primer dimer artifacts. General rules guiding the design of SAMRS-modified primers are offered to support medical research and clinical diagnostics products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zunyi Yang
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FfAME), 13709 Progress Blvd, Box 7, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
- Firebird Biomolecular Sciences LLC, 13709 Progress Blvd, Box 17, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
| | - Jennifer T Le
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FfAME), 13709 Progress Blvd, Box 7, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
| | - Daniel Hutter
- Firebird Biomolecular Sciences LLC, 13709 Progress Blvd, Box 17, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
| | - Kevin M Bradley
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FfAME), 13709 Progress Blvd, Box 7, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
- Firebird Biomolecular Sciences LLC, 13709 Progress Blvd, Box 17, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
| | - Benjamin R Overton
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FfAME), 13709 Progress Blvd, Box 7, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
| | - Chris McLendon
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FfAME), 13709 Progress Blvd, Box 7, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
- Firebird Biomolecular Sciences LLC, 13709 Progress Blvd, Box 17, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
| | - Steven A Benner
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FfAME), 13709 Progress Blvd, Box 7, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
- Firebird Biomolecular Sciences LLC, 13709 Progress Blvd, Box 17, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
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8
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Owczarzy R. Predicting melting and folding of nucleic acids: Comment on "DNA melting and energetics of double helix" by Alexander Vologodskii and Maxim D. Frank-Kamenetskii. Phys Life Rev 2018; 25:24-25. [PMID: 29456165 DOI: 10.1016/j.plrev.2018.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Richard Owczarzy
- Enzyme Development Department, Integrated DNA Technologies, 1710 Commercial Park, Coralville, IA 52241, USA.
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9
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Wang Y, Wang Y, Wang H, Xu J, Ye C. A label-free technique for accurate detection of nucleic acid-based self-avoiding molecular recognition systems supplemented multiple cross-displacement amplification and nanoparticles based biosensor. ARTIFICIAL CELLS NANOMEDICINE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY 2017; 46:1671-1684. [PMID: 29037087 DOI: 10.1080/21691401.2017.1389748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Here, we devised a novel isothermal technique on the basis of standard multiple cross-displacement amplification (MCDA), which is assisted with self-avoiding molecular recognition system (SAMRS) components and antarctic thermal-sensitive uracil-DNA-glycosylase enzyme (AUDG), termed AUDG-SAMRS-MCDA. To enable product detection on the dipsticks, we firstly developed an analysis strategy, which did not require the labelled primers or probes, and thus, the analysis system avoids the false-positive results arising from undesired hybridization (between two labelled primers, or the labelled probe and primer). The SAMRS components are incorporated into MCDA primers for improve the assay's specificity, which can prevent the false-positive results yielding from off-target hybrids, undesired interactions between (hetero-dimer) or within (self-dimerization) primers. Two additional components (AUDG enzyme and dUTP) were added into the reaction mixtures, which were used for removing the false-positive results generating from carryover contamination, and thus, the genuine positives results were produced from the amplification of target templates. For the demonstration, the label-free AUDG-SAMRS-MCDA technique was successfully applied to detect Pseudomonas aeruginosa from pure culture and blood samples. As a proof-of-concept technique, the label-free AUDG-SAMRS-MCDA method can be reconfigured to detect different target sequences by redesigning the specific primers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Wang
- a State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention , Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention , Beijing , PR China
| | - Yan Wang
- a State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention , Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention , Beijing , PR China
| | - Hong Wang
- b Zigong Center for Disease Control and Prevention , Zigong , Sichuan Province , PR China
| | - Jianguo Xu
- a State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention , Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention , Beijing , PR China
| | - Changyun Ye
- a State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention , Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention , Beijing , PR China
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Liu Q, Liu G, Wang T, Fu J, Li R, Song L, Wang ZG, Ding B, Chen F. Enhanced Stability of DNA Nanostructures by Incorporation of Unnatural Base Pairs. Chemphyschem 2017; 18:2977-2980. [DOI: 10.1002/cphc.201700809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Revised: 08/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Qing Liu
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience; National Center for Nanoscience and Technology; Beijing 100190 P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100049 P. R. China
| | - Guocheng Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences & Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100101 P. R. China
| | - Ting Wang
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience; National Center for Nanoscience and Technology; Beijing 100190 P. R. China
| | - Jing Fu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences & Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100101 P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100049 P. R. China
| | - Rujiao Li
- Big Data Center, Beijing Institute of Genomics; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100101 P. R. China
| | - Linlin Song
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience; National Center for Nanoscience and Technology; Beijing 100190 P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100049 P. R. China
| | - Zhen-Gang Wang
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience; National Center for Nanoscience and Technology; Beijing 100190 P. R. China
| | - Baoquan Ding
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience; National Center for Nanoscience and Technology; Beijing 100190 P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100049 P. R. China
| | - Fei Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences & Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100101 P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100049 P. R. China
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11
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Barreda-García S, Miranda-Castro R, de-Los-Santos-Álvarez N, Miranda-Ordieres AJ, Lobo-Castañón MJ. Helicase-dependent isothermal amplification: a novel tool in the development of molecular-based analytical systems for rapid pathogen detection. Anal Bioanal Chem 2017; 410:679-693. [PMID: 28932883 PMCID: PMC7079856 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-017-0620-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Revised: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Highly sensitive testing of nucleic acids is essential to improve the detection of pathogens, which pose a major threat for public health worldwide. Currently available molecular assays, mainly based on PCR, have a limited utility in point-of-need control or resource-limited settings. Consequently, there is a strong interest in developing cost-effective, robust, and portable platforms for early detection of these harmful microorganisms. Since its description in 2004, isothermal helicase-dependent amplification (HDA) has been successfully applied in the development of novel molecular-based technologies for rapid, sensitive, and selective detection of viruses and bacteria. In this review, we highlight relevant analytical systems using this simple nucleic acid amplification methodology that takes place at a constant temperature and that is readily compatible with microfluidic technologies. Different strategies for monitoring HDA amplification products are described. In addition, we present technological advances for integrating sample preparation, HDA amplification, and detection. Future perspectives and challenges toward point-of-need use not only for clinical diagnosis but also in food safety testing and environmental monitoring are also discussed. Expanding the analytical toolbox for the detection of DNA sequences specific of pathogens with isothermal helicase dependent amplification (HDA) ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Barreda-García
- Departamento de Química Física y Analítica, Universidad de Oviedo, Julián Clavería 8, 33006, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Rebeca Miranda-Castro
- Departamento de Química Física y Analítica, Universidad de Oviedo, Julián Clavería 8, 33006, Oviedo, Spain
| | | | - Arturo J Miranda-Ordieres
- Departamento de Química Física y Analítica, Universidad de Oviedo, Julián Clavería 8, 33006, Oviedo, Spain
| | - María Jesús Lobo-Castañón
- Departamento de Química Física y Analítica, Universidad de Oviedo, Julián Clavería 8, 33006, Oviedo, Spain.
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12
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DNA polymerases and biotechnological applications. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2017; 48:187-195. [PMID: 28618333 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2017.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
A multitude of biotechnological techniques used in basic research as well as in clinical diagnostics on an everyday basis depend on DNA polymerases and their intrinsic capability to replicate DNA strands with astoundingly high fidelity. Applications with fundamental importance to modern molecular biology, including the polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing, would not be feasible without the advances made in characterizing these enzymes over the course of the last 60 years. Nonetheless, the still growing application scope of DNA polymerases necessitates the identification of novel enzymes with tailor-made properties. In the recent past, DNA polymerases optimized for diverse PCR and sequencing applications as well as enzymes that accept a variety of unnatural substrates for the synthesis and reverse transcription of modified nucleic acids have been developed.
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Benner SA, Karalkar NB, Hoshika S, Laos R, Shaw RW, Matsuura M, Fajardo D, Moussatche P. Alternative Watson-Crick Synthetic Genetic Systems. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2016; 8:a023770. [PMID: 27663774 PMCID: PMC5088529 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a023770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
In its "grand challenge" format in chemistry, "synthesis" as an activity sets out a goal that is substantially beyond current theoretical and technological capabilities. In pursuit of this goal, scientists are forced across uncharted territory, where they must answer unscripted questions and solve unscripted problems, creating new theories and new technologies in ways that would not be created by hypothesis-directed research. Thus, synthesis drives discovery and paradigm changes in ways that analysis cannot. Described here are the products that have arisen so far through the pursuit of one grand challenge in synthetic biology: Recreate the genetics, catalysis, evolution, and adaptation that we value in life, but using genetic and catalytic biopolymers different from those that have been delivered to us by natural history on Earth. The outcomes in technology include new diagnostic tools that have helped personalize the care of hundreds of thousands of patients worldwide. In science, the effort has generated a fundamentally different view of DNA, RNA, and how they work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven A Benner
- The Westheimer Institute for Science and Technology, The Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Alachua, Florida 32615
| | - Nilesh B Karalkar
- The Westheimer Institute for Science and Technology, The Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Alachua, Florida 32615
| | - Shuichi Hoshika
- The Westheimer Institute for Science and Technology, The Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Alachua, Florida 32615
| | - Roberto Laos
- The Westheimer Institute for Science and Technology, The Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Alachua, Florida 32615
| | - Ryan W Shaw
- The Westheimer Institute for Science and Technology, The Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Alachua, Florida 32615
| | - Mariko Matsuura
- The Westheimer Institute for Science and Technology, The Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Alachua, Florida 32615
| | - Diego Fajardo
- The Westheimer Institute for Science and Technology, The Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Alachua, Florida 32615
| | - Patricia Moussatche
- The Westheimer Institute for Science and Technology, The Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Alachua, Florida 32615
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14
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Yaren O, Glushakova LG, Bradley KM, Hoshika S, Benner SA. Standard and AEGIS nicking molecular beacons detect amplicons from the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. J Virol Methods 2016; 236:54-61. [PMID: 27421627 PMCID: PMC5010982 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2016.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Revised: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
This paper combines two advances to detect MERS-CoV, the causative agent of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, that have emerged over the past few years from the new field of "synthetic biology". Both are based on an older concept, where molecular beacons are used as the downstream detection of viral RNA in biological mixtures followed by reverse transcription PCR amplification. The first advance exploits the artificially expanded genetic information systems (AEGIS). AEGIS adds nucleotides to the four found in standard DNA and RNA (xNA); AEGIS nucleotides pair orthogonally to the A:T and G:C pairs. Placing AEGIS components in the stems of molecular beacons is shown to lower noise by preventing unwanted stem invasion by adventitious natural xNA. This should improve the signal-to-noise ratio of molecular beacons operating in complex biological mixtures. The second advance introduces a nicking enzyme that allows a single target molecule to activate more than one beacon, allowing "signal amplification". Combining these technologies in primers with components of a self-avoiding molecular recognition system (SAMRS), we detect 50 copies of MERS-CoV RNA in a multiplexed respiratory virus panel by generating fluorescence signal visible to human eye and/or camera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozlem Yaren
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FfAME), 13709 Progress Boulevard, Box 7, Alachua, FL 32615 USA
| | - Lyudmyla G Glushakova
- Firebird Biomolecular Sciences LLC, 13709 Progress Boulevard, Box 17, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
| | - Kevin M Bradley
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FfAME), 13709 Progress Boulevard, Box 7, Alachua, FL 32615 USA
| | - Shuichi Hoshika
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FfAME), 13709 Progress Boulevard, Box 7, Alachua, FL 32615 USA
| | - Steven A Benner
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FfAME), 13709 Progress Boulevard, Box 7, Alachua, FL 32615 USA; Firebird Biomolecular Sciences LLC, 13709 Progress Boulevard, Box 17, Alachua, FL 32615, USA.
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15
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Yaren O, Bradley KM, Moussatche P, Hoshika S, Yang Z, Zhu S, Karst SM, Benner SA. A norovirus detection architecture based on isothermal amplification and expanded genetic systems. J Virol Methods 2016; 237:64-71. [PMID: 27546345 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2016.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Revised: 08/17/2016] [Accepted: 08/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Noroviruses are the major cause of global viral gastroenteritis with short incubation times and small inoculums required for infection. This creates a need for a rapid molecular test for norovirus for early diagnosis, in the hope of preventing the spread of the disease. Non-chemists generally use off-the shelf reagents and natural DNA to create such tests, suffering from background noise that comes from adventitious DNA and RNA (collectively xNA) that is abundant in real biological samples, especially feces, a common location for norovirus. Here, we create an assay that combines artificially expanded genetic information systems (AEGIS, which adds nucleotides to the four in standard xNA, pairing orthogonally to A:T and G:C) with loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) to amplify norovirus RNA at constant temperatures, without the power or instrument requirements of PCR cycling. This assay was then validated using feces contaminated with murine norovirus (MNV). Treating stool samples with ammonia extracts the MNV RNA, which is then amplified in an AEGIS-RT-LAMP where AEGIS segments are incorporated both into an internal LAMP primer and into a molecular beacon stem, the second lowering background signaling noise. This is coupled with RNase H nicking during sample amplification, allowing detection of as few as 10 copies of noroviral RNA in a stool sample, generating a fluorescent signal visible to human eye, all in a closed reaction vessel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozlem Yaren
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FfAME), 13709 Progress Boulevard, # 7, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
| | - Kevin M Bradley
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FfAME), 13709 Progress Boulevard, # 7, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
| | - Patricia Moussatche
- Firebird Biomolecular Sciences LLC, 13709 Progress Boulevard, # 17, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
| | - Shuichi Hoshika
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FfAME), 13709 Progress Boulevard, # 7, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
| | - Zunyi Yang
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FfAME), 13709 Progress Boulevard, # 7, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
| | - Shu Zhu
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611, USA; The Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611, USA
| | - Stephanie M Karst
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611, USA; The Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611, USA
| | - Steven A Benner
- Firebird Biomolecular Sciences LLC, 13709 Progress Boulevard, # 17, Alachua, FL 32615, USA.
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16
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Chawla M, Credendino R, Chermak E, Oliva R, Cavallo L. Theoretical Characterization of the H-Bonding and Stacking Potential of Two Nonstandard Nucleobases Expanding the Genetic Alphabet. J Phys Chem B 2016; 120:2216-24. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.6b00125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mohit Chawla
- Physical
Sciences and Engineering Division (PSE), Kaust Catalysis Center (KCC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Raffaele Credendino
- Physical
Sciences and Engineering Division (PSE), Kaust Catalysis Center (KCC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Edrisse Chermak
- Physical
Sciences and Engineering Division (PSE), Kaust Catalysis Center (KCC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Romina Oliva
- Department
of Sciences and Technologies, University Parthenope of Naples, Centro Direzionale Isola C4, I-80143 Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Cavallo
- Physical
Sciences and Engineering Division (PSE), Kaust Catalysis Center (KCC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
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17
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Abstract
Advances and applications of synthetic genetic polymers (xeno-nucleic acids) are reviewed in this article. The types of synthetic genetic polymers are summarized. The basic properties of them are elaborated and their technical applications are presented. Challenges and prospects of synthetic genetic polymers are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Ma
- Department of Chemistry
- National University of Singapore
- Singapore 117543
| | - Danence Lee
- Department of Chemistry
- National University of Singapore
- Singapore 117543
| | - Yong Quan Tan
- Department of Biochemistry
- National University of Singapore
- Singapore 117597
| | - Garrett Wong
- Department of Biochemistry
- National University of Singapore
- Singapore 117597
| | - Zhiqiang Gao
- Department of Chemistry
- National University of Singapore
- Singapore 117543
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18
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Yang Z, McLendon C, Hutter D, Bradley KM, Hoshika S, Frye CB, Benner SA. Helicase-Dependent Isothermal Amplification of DNA and RNA by Using Self-Avoiding Molecular Recognition Systems. Chembiochem 2015; 16:1365-70. [PMID: 25953623 PMCID: PMC4489552 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201500135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Assays that detect DNA or RNA (xNA) are highly sensitive, as small amounts of xNA can be amplified by PCR. Unfortunately, PCR is inconvenient in low-resource environments, and requires equipment and power that might not be available in these environments. Isothermal procedures, which avoid thermal cycling, are often confounded by primer dimers, off-target priming, and other artifacts. Here, we show how a "self avoiding molecular recognition system" (SAMRS) eliminates these artifacts and gives clean amplicons in a helicase-dependent isothermal amplification (SAMRS-HDA). We also show that incorporating SAMRS into the 3'-ends of primers facilitates the design and screening of primers for HDA assays. Finally, we show that SAMRS-HDA can be twofold multiplexed, difficult to achieve with HDA using standard primers. Thus, SAMRS-HDA is a more versatile approach than standard HDA, with a broader applicability for xNA-targeted diagnostics and research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zunyi Yang
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FfAME), 720 SW 2nd Avenue, Suite 201, Gainesville, FL 32601 (USA) http://ffame.org.
| | - Chris McLendon
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FfAME), 720 SW 2nd Avenue, Suite 201, Gainesville, FL 32601 (USA) http://ffame.org
| | - Daniel Hutter
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FfAME), 720 SW 2nd Avenue, Suite 201, Gainesville, FL 32601 (USA) http://ffame.org
- Firebird Biomolecular Sciences LLC, 13709 Progress Blvd, N112, Alachua, FL 32615 (USA)
| | - Kevin M Bradley
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FfAME), 720 SW 2nd Avenue, Suite 201, Gainesville, FL 32601 (USA) http://ffame.org
| | - Shuichi Hoshika
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FfAME), 720 SW 2nd Avenue, Suite 201, Gainesville, FL 32601 (USA) http://ffame.org
| | - Carole B Frye
- Firebird Biomolecular Sciences LLC, 13709 Progress Blvd, N112, Alachua, FL 32615 (USA)
| | - Steven A Benner
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FfAME), 720 SW 2nd Avenue, Suite 201, Gainesville, FL 32601 (USA) http://ffame.org.
- Firebird Biomolecular Sciences LLC, 13709 Progress Blvd, N112, Alachua, FL 32615 (USA).
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19
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20
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High-throughput multiplexed xMAP Luminex array panel for detection of twenty two medically important mosquito-borne arboviruses based on innovations in synthetic biology. J Virol Methods 2015; 214:60-74. [PMID: 25680538 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2015.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2014] [Revised: 01/25/2015] [Accepted: 01/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Mosquito-borne arboviruses are emerging world-wide as important human and animal pathogens. This makes assays for their accurate and rapid identification essential for public health, epidemiological, ecological studies. Over the past decade, many mono- and multiplexed assays targeting arboviruses nucleic acids have been reported. None has become established for the routine identification of multiple viruses in a "single tube" setting. With increasing multiplexing, the detection of viral RNAs is complicated by noise, false positives and negatives. In this study, an assay was developed that avoids these problems by combining two new kinds of nucleic acids emerging from the field of synthetic biology. The first is a "self-avoiding molecular recognition system" (SAMRS), which enables high levels of multiplexing. The second is an "artificially expanded genetic information system" (AEGIS), which enables clean PCR amplification in nested PCR formats. A conversion technology was used to place AEGIS component into amplicon, improving their efficiency of hybridization on Luminex beads. When Luminex "liquid microarrays" are exploited for downstream detection, this combination supports single-tube PCR amplification assays that can identify 22 mosquito-borne RNA viruses from the genera Flavivirus, Alphavirus, Orthobunyavirus. The assay differentiates between closely-related viruses, as dengue, West Nile, Japanese encephalitis, and the California serological group. The performance and the sensitivity of the assay were evaluated with dengue viruses and infected mosquitoes; as few as 6-10 dengue virions can be detected in a single mosquito.
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21
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Zaghloul H, El-shahat M. Recombinase polymerase amplification as a promising tool in hepatitis C virus diagnosis. World J Hepatol 2014; 6:916-922. [PMID: 25544878 PMCID: PMC4269910 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v6.i12.916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2014] [Revised: 10/13/2014] [Accepted: 10/29/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection represents a significant health problem and represents a heavy load on some countries like Egypt in which about 20% of the total population are infected. Initial infection is usually asymptomatic and result in chronic hepatitis that give rise to complications including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The management of HCV infection should not only be focus on therapy, but also to screen carrier individuals in order to prevent transmission. In the present, molecular detection and quantification of HCV genome by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) represent the gold standard in HCV diagnosis and plays a crucial role in the management of therapeutic regimens. However, real time PCR is a complicated approach and of limited distribution. On the other hand, isothermal DNA amplification techniques have been developed and offer molecular diagnosis of infectious dieses at point-of-care. In this review we discuss recombinase polymerase amplification technique and illustrate its diagnostic value over both PCR and other isothermal amplification techniques.
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22
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Komiyama M. Chemical modifications of artificial restriction DNA cutter (ARCUT) to promote its in vivo and in vitro applications. ARTIFICIAL DNA, PNA & XNA 2014; 5:e1112457. [PMID: 26744220 PMCID: PMC5329899 DOI: 10.1080/1949095x.2015.1112457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2015] [Revised: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/15/2015] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Recently, completely chemistry-based tools for site-selective scission of DNA (ARCUT) have been prepared by combining 2 strands of pseudo-complementary PNA (pcPNA: site-selective activator) and a Ce(IV)-EDTA complex (molecular scissors). Its site-specificity is sufficient to cut the whole human genome at one predetermined site. In this first-generation ARCUT, however, there still remain several problems to be solved for wider applications. This review presents recent approaches to solve these problems. They are divided into (i) covalent modification of pcPNA with other functional groups and (ii) new strategies using conventional PNA, in place of pcPNA, as site-selective activator. Among various chemical modifications, conjugation with positively-charged nuclear localization signal peptide is especially effective. Furthermore, unimolecular activators, a single strand of which successfully activates the target site in DNA for site-selective scission, have been also developed. As the result of these modifications, the site-selective scission by Ce(IV)-EDTA was achieved promptly even under high salt conditions which are otherwise unfavourable for double-duplex invasion. Furthermore, it has been shown that "molecular crowding effect," which characterizes the inside of living cells, enormously promotes the invasion, and thus the invasion seems to proceed effectively and spontaneously in the cells. Strong potential of pcPNA for further applications in vivo and in vitro has been confirmed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Komiyama
- Life Science Center of Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance; University of Tsukuba; Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
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23
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Towards applications of synthetic genetic polymers in diagnosis and therapy. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2014; 22:79-84. [PMID: 25285754 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2014.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2014] [Revised: 09/18/2014] [Accepted: 09/18/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Aptamers are a class of single-stranded nucleic acid ligands that can bind their targets with high specificity and affinities rivalling those of antibodies. First described over 20 years ago by Tuerk & Gold [1] and Ellington & Szostak [2] (who coined the name), their promise as both diagnostic and therapeutic agents remains to be realised. Key problems include the generally low biostability of the standard DNA/RNA or mixed RNA/2'F-DNA backbones under physiological conditions, limited chemical diversity of functional groups on the natural nucleobases, and the difficulty in reliably discovering aptamer ligands to some therapeutic targets. This review will describe recent progress in developing aptamer selection technology as well as expanding aptamer chemistry and informational complexity to improve aptamer discovery and properties.
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24
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Sharma N, Hoshika S, Hutter D, Bradley KM, Benner SA. Recombinase-based isothermal amplification of nucleic acids with self-avoiding molecular recognition systems (SAMRS). Chembiochem 2014; 15:2268-74. [PMID: 25209570 PMCID: PMC7162014 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201402250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) is an isothermal method to amplify nucleic acid sequences without the temperature cycling that classical PCR uses. Instead of using heat to denature the DNA duplex, RPA uses recombination enzymes to swap single-stranded primers into the duplex DNA product; these are then extended using a strand-displacing polymerase to complete the cycle. Because RPA runs at low temperatures, it never forces the system to recreate base-pairs following Watson-Crick rules, and therefore it produces undesired products that impede the amplification of the desired product, complicating downstream analysis. Herein, we show that most of these undesired side products can be avoided if the primers contain components of a self-avoiding molecular recognition system (SAMRS). Given the precision that is necessary in the recombination systems for them to function biologically, it is surprising that they accept SAMRS. SAMRS-RPA is expected to be a powerful tool within the range of amplification techniques available to scientists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nidhi Sharma
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, P.O. Box 13174, Gainesville FL 32604 (USA)
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25
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Pinheiro VB, Holliger P. Towards XNA nanotechnology: new materials from synthetic genetic polymers. Trends Biotechnol 2014; 32:321-8. [PMID: 24745974 PMCID: PMC4039137 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2014.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2013] [Revised: 03/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Nucleic acids display remarkable properties beyond information storage and propagation. The well-understood base pairing rules have enabled nucleic acids to be assembled into nanostructures of ever increasing complexity. Although nanostructures can be constructed using other building blocks, including peptides and lipids, it is the capacity to evolve that sets nucleic acids apart from all other nanoscale building materials. Nonetheless, the poor chemical and biological stability of DNA and RNA constrain their applications. Recent advances in nucleic acid chemistry and polymerase engineering enable the synthesis, replication, and evolution of a range of synthetic genetic polymers (XNAs) with improved chemical and biological stability. We discuss the impact of this technology on the generation of XNA ligands, enzymes, and nanostructures with tailor-made chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitor B Pinheiro
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Philipp Holliger
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK.
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26
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Aiba Y, Hamano Y, Kameshima W, Araki Y, Wada T, Accetta A, Sforza S, Corradini R, Marchelli R, Komiyama M. PNA-NLS conjugates as single-molecular activators of target sites in double-stranded DNA for site-selective scission. Org Biomol Chem 2014; 11:5233-8. [PMID: 23820872 DOI: 10.1039/c3ob40947c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Artificial DNA cutters have been developed by us in our previous studies by combining two strands of pseudo-complementary peptide nucleic acid (pcPNA) with Ce(IV)-EDTA-promoted hydrolysis. The pcPNAs have two modified nucleobases (2,6-diaminopurine and 2-thiouracil) instead of conventional A and T, and can invade double-stranded DNA to activate the target site for the scission. This system has been applied to site-selective scissions of plasmid, λ-phage, E. coli genomic DNA, and human genomic DNA. Here, we have reported a still simpler and more convenient DNA cutter obtained by conjugating peptide nucleic acid (PNA) with a nuclear localization signal (NLS) peptide. This new DNA cutter requires only one PNA strand (instead of two) bearing conventional (non-pseudo-complementary) nucleobases. This PNA-NLS conjugate effectively activated the target site in double-stranded DNA and induced site-selective scission by Ce(IV)-EDTA. The complex formation between the conjugate and DNA was concretely evidenced by spectroscopic results based on time-resolved fluorescence. The target scission site of this new system was straightforwardly determined by the Watson-Crick base pairing rule, and mismatched sequences were clearly discriminated. Importantly, even highly GC-rich regions, which are difficult to be targeted by a previous strategy using pcPNA, were successfully targeted. All these features of the present DNA cutter make it promising for various future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuichiro Aiba
- Life Science Center of Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
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27
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Yang Z, Durante M, Glushakova LG, Sharma N, Leal NA, Bradley KM, Chen F, Benner SA. Conversion strategy using an expanded genetic alphabet to assay nucleic acids. Anal Chem 2013; 85:4705-12. [PMID: 23541235 DOI: 10.1021/ac400422r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Methods to detect DNA and RNA (collectively xNA) are easily plagued by noise, false positives, and false negatives, especially with increasing levels of multiplexing in complex assay mixtures. Here, we describe assay architectures that mitigate these problems by converting standard xNA analyte sequences into sequences that incorporate nonstandard nucleotides (Z and P). Z and P are extra DNA building blocks that form tight nonstandard base pairs without cross-binding to natural oligonucleotides containing G, A, C, and T (GACT). The resulting improvements are assessed in an assay that inverts the standard Luminex xTAG architecture, placing a biotin on a primer (rather than on a triphosphate). This primer is extended on the target to create a standard GACT extension product that is captured by a CTGA oligonucleotide attached to a Luminex bead. By using conversion, a polymerase incorporates dZTP opposite template dG in the absence of dCTP. This creates a Z-containing extension product that is captured by a bead-bound oligonucleotide containing P, which binds selectively to Z. The assay with conversion produces higher signals than the assay without conversion, possibly because the Z/P pair is stronger than the C/G pair. These architectures improve the ability of the Luminex instruments to detect xNA analytes, producing higher signals without the possibility of competition from any natural oligonucleotides, even in complex biological samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zunyi Yang
- Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FfAME), Gainesville, Florida 32601, United States.
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28
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Ackermann D, Famulok M. Pseudo-complementary PNA actuators as reversible switches in dynamic DNA nanotechnology. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 41:4729-39. [PMID: 23444144 PMCID: PMC3632119 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The structural reorganization of nanoscale DNA architectures is a fundamental aspect in dynamic DNA nanotechnology. Commonly, DNA nanoarchitectures are reorganized by means of toehold-expanded DNA sequences in a strand exchange process. Here we describe an unprecedented, toehold-free switching process that relies on pseudo-complementary peptide nucleic acid (pcPNA) by using a mechanism that involves double-strand invasion. The usefulness of this approach is demonstrated by application of these peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) as switches in a DNA rotaxane architecture. The monomers required for generating the pcPNA were obtained by an improved synthesis strategy and were incorporated into a PNA actuator sequence as well as into a short DNA strand that subsequently was integrated into the rotaxane architecture. Alternate addition of a DNA and PNA actuator sequence allowed the multiple reversible switching between a mobile rotaxane macrocycle and a stationary pseudorotaxane state. The switching occurs in an isothermal process at room temperature and is nearly quantitative in each switching step. pcPNAs can potentially be combined with light- and toehold-based switches, thus broadening the toolbox of orthogonal switching approaches for DNA architectures that open up new avenues in dynamic DNA nanotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damian Ackermann
- Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Unit, LIMES Institute, c/o Kekulé Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Strasse 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
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29
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Pinheiro VB, Loakes D, Holliger P. Synthetic polymers and their potential as genetic materials. Bioessays 2012; 35:113-22. [PMID: 23281109 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201200135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
DNA and RNA are the only known natural genetic materials. Systematic modification of each of their chemical building blocks (nucleobase, sugar, and phosphate) has enabled the study of the key properties that make those nucleic acids genetic materials. All three moieties contribute to replication and, significantly, all three moieties can be replaced by synthetic analogs without loss of function. Synthetic nucleic acid polymers capable of storing and propagating information not only expand the central dogma, but also highlight that DNA and RNA are not unique chemical solutions for genetic information storage. By considering replication as a question of information transfer, we propose that any polymer that can be replicated could serve as a genetic material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitor B Pinheiro
- Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK.
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30
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Pinheiro VB, Holliger P. The XNA world: progress towards replication and evolution of synthetic genetic polymers. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2012; 16:245-52. [PMID: 22704981 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2012.05.198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2012] [Revised: 05/16/2012] [Accepted: 05/21/2012] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Life's diversity is built on the wide range of properties and functions that can be encoded in natural biopolymers such as polypeptides and nucleic acids. However, despite their versatility, the range of chemical functionalities is limited, particularly in the case of nucleic acids. Chemical modification of nucleic acids can greatly increase their functional diversity but access to the full phenotypic potential of such polymers requires a system of replication. Here we review progress in the chemical and enzymatic synthesis, replication and evolution of unnatural nucleic acid polymers, which promises to enable the exploration of a vast sequence space not accessible to nature and deliver ligands, catalysts and materials based on this new class of biopolymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitor B Pinheiro
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Medical Research Council, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
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31
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Loakes D. Nucleotides and nucleic acids; oligo- and polynucleotides. ORGANOPHOSPHORUS CHEMISTRY 2012. [DOI: 10.1039/9781849734875-00169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- David Loakes
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Hills Road Cambridge CB2 2QH UK
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32
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Yaren O, Mosimann M, Leumann CJ. Ein paralleles Testverfahren zur Entdeckung neuer DNA-Basenpaare. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2011. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201005300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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33
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Yaren O, Mosimann M, Leumann CJ. A parallel screen for the discovery of novel DNA base pairs. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2011; 50:1935-8. [PMID: 21328674 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201005300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2010] [Revised: 11/15/2010] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Oezlem Yaren
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
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34
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Synthesis and characterization of oligodeoxynucleotides containing a novel tetraazabenzo[cd]azulene:naphthyridine base pair. Bioorg Med Chem 2010; 19:352-8. [PMID: 21129979 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2010.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2010] [Revised: 11/05/2010] [Accepted: 11/06/2010] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The synthesis and thermal stability of oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) containing 4-amino-2,3,5,6-tetraazabenzo[cd]azulen-7-one nucleosides 5 (BaO(N)) with the aim of developing new base pairing motif is described. The tricyclic nucleoside 5 was prepared starting with the 7-deaza-7-iodopurine derivative 1 via a palladium catalyzed cross-coupling reaction with methyl acrylate, followed by an intramolecular cyclization. The resulting nucleoside was incorporated into ODNs, and the base pairing property of the BaO(N):NaN(O) (2-amino-7-hydroxy-1,8-naphthyridine nucleoside) pair in the duplex was evaluated by a thermal denaturation study. The melting temperature (T(m)) of the duplex containing the BaO(N):NaN(O) pair showed a higher value than that of the duplexes containing the adenine:thymine (A:T) and the guanine:cytosine (G:C) pairs, however it was lower than that of the ImO(N):NaN(O) (ImO(N)=7-amino-imidazo[5',4':4,5]pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(5H)-one nucleoside) pair. A temperature-dependent (1)H NMR study revealed that the H-bonding ability of BaO(N) was lower than that of ImO(N), which would explain why the BaO(N):NaN(O) pair was less thermally stable than the ImO(N):NaN(O) pair.
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