The potential of DNA as a stable catalyst may give this molecule more success than ribozymes as tools for molecular biology, biotechnology, nanotechnology, and clinical diagnostics. Furthermore, comparison of catalytic RNA structures, which occurs naturally and more frequently, and DNA structures that result in catalytic motifs will prove crucial in revealing fundamental features of biocatalysts. To further gain insight into evolution and the structure and function of nucleic acid enzymes, this proposal will aim to 1) evolve a deoxyribozyme ligase from random sequences using stepwise evolution procedures, 2) optimize a deoxyribozyme-catalyzed ligase chain reaction (LCR), a method for the exponential amplification of target DNA through cycles of denaturing and annealing of ligation substrates and template, and 3) detect genetic mutations using the deoxyribozyme-catalyzed LCR, such as point mutations of BRCA1, BRCA1, and ones that give rise to beta-thalassemia. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32GM078691-03
Application #
7457758
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F04B-A (20))
Program Officer
Marino, Pamela
Project Start
2006-07-01
Project End
2008-12-31
Budget Start
2008-07-01
Budget End
2008-12-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$24,398
Indirect Cost
Name
Scripps Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
781613492
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92037
Lam, Bianca J; Joyce, Gerald F (2009) Autocatalytic aptazymes enable ligand-dependent exponential amplification of RNA. Nat Biotechnol 27:288-92