Language
Country/Area
No result found
Hidden treasures of nature: Why are DNAzymes so rare and valuable?
Deoxyribozyme, or DNAzyme for short, is gradually attracting widespread attention in the scientific community. Although this unique enzyme-type molecule can catalyze chemical reactions, it is quite rare in nature. Compared with other enzymes, such as proteins and RNA enzymes, deoxyribozymes have a short history of discovery and there is almost no record of their occurrence in nature. This makes DNAzymes a hidden treasure in current biochemical research.
Deoxyribozymes are not only catalysts, but may also be the key to exploring the origin of life and biochemistry. Their blank records have repeatedly challenged scientists' cognition.
The rarity of DNA enzymes, compared to the abundant protein enzymes and RNA enzymes discovered in biology in the 1980s, provides profound insights. The structure of DNA limits its catalytic ability. In particular, compared with the functional diversity of proteins, the four nucleotide structures of deoxyribose are relatively simple, making its catalytic effect seem inadequate.
Due to the limited number of basic metabolic components, deoxyribozymes are limited to three types of interactions in catalytic reactions: hydrogen bonding, π stacking, and metal ion coordination.
On the one hand, the lack of the RNA-specific 2'-hydroxyl group in deoxyribose further weakens the potential of DNA as a catalyst. On the other hand, the double helix structure of DNA inhibits its ability to form a highly flexible tertiary structure, making its catalytic effect inherently limited. Even so, the existence of DNAzymes still proves their value and can still exhibit superior catalytic performance in some specific environments.
Types of DNAzymes
DNA enzymes can perform a variety of chemical reactions, the most well-known type of which are ribonucleases. These molecules catalyze the cleavage of nucleotide ester bonds and form cyclic phosphate termini. Since 1994, scientists have begun to study this type of molecule and have discovered several types of deoxyribozymes, including GR-5. These enzymes can be modified by various metal cofactors to alter their catalytic properties, further expanding their application potential.
Like the first DNA enzyme discovered, GR-5, its catalytic capacity exceeded the uncatalyzed reaction by 100 times, revealing the amazing potential of these biomolecules.
Screening and Evolution
Since deoxyribozymes are rarely found in nature, scientists usually discover new deoxyribozymes through in vitro screening techniques. These screening techniques are similar to SELEX, which uses pools of synthetic random DNA sequences to filter out molecules with specific catalytic activity. Through continued co-selection and expansion of the screen, the researchers were able to screen for effective DNAzyme sequences, a process that highlights an important biochemical research role.
Application Prospects
With the advancement of technology, DNAzymes have been applied in many fields, including virus suppression, cancer treatment and metal detection. Studies have shown that deoxyribozymes can effectively inhibit the proliferation of influenza viruses, coronaviruses and many other pathogens, and have shown potential therapeutic effects in clinical practice.
The latest research shows that DNA enzymes targeting specific gene transcription factors can significantly improve patient responses to diseases such as asthma.
Final Thoughts
The discovery and application of deoxyribozymes not only enrich our understanding of biocatalysis, but also provide a new perspective for exploring the origin of life. As research deepens, DNAzymes may play a more important role in biomedicine and biotechnology in the future. What kind of surprises and revelations will these treasures hidden in nature bring us?
