Highly sensitive self-complementary DNA nanoswitches triggered by polyelectrolytes

作者：Wu, Jincai; Yu, Feng; Zhang, Zheng; Chen, Yong; Du, Jie^*; Maruyama, Atsushi

来源：Nanoscale, 2016, 8(1): 464-470.

DOI：10.1039/c5nr05193b

• COMB-TYPE COPOLYMERS
• DIMERIZATION INITIATION SITE
• CONFORMATIONAL SWITCH
• STRAND EXCHANGE
• POLY(L-LYSINE)-GRAFT-DEXTRAN COPOLYMER
• PH
• HYBRIDIZATION
• NANOMACHINE
• NANOSTRUCTURES
• MACHINE

Dimerization of two homologous strands of genomic DNA/RNA is an essential feature of retroviral replication. Herein we show that a cationic comb-type copolymer (CCC), poly(L-lysine)-graft-dextran, accelerates the dimerization of self-complementary stem-loop DNA, frequently found in functional DNA/RNA molecules, such as aptamers. Furthermore, an anionic polymer poly(sodium vinylsulfonate) (PVS) dissociates CCC from the duplex shortly within a few seconds. Then single stem-loop DNA spontaneously transforms from its dimer. Thus we can easily control the dimer and stem-loop DNA by switching on/off CCC activity. Both polyelectrolytes and DNA concentrations are in the nanomole per liter range. The polyelectrolyte-assisted transconformation and sequences design strategy ensures the reversible state control with rapid response and effective switching under physiologically relevant conditions. A further application of this sensitive assembly is to construct an aptamer-type drug delivery system, bind or release functional molecules responding to its transconformation.

• 出版日期2016
• 单位海南大学