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A microRNA-initiated DNAzyme motor operating in living cells

Author

Listed:
  • Hanyong Peng

    (Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta)

  • Xing-Fang Li

    (Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta)

  • Hongquan Zhang

    (Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta)

  • X. Chris Le

    (Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta)

Abstract

Synthetic DNA motors have great potential to mimic natural protein motors in cells but the operation of synthetic DNA motors in living cells remains challenging and has not been demonstrated. Here we report a DNAzyme motor that operates in living cells in response to a specific intracellular target. The whole motor system is constructed on a 20 nm gold nanoparticle (AuNP) decorated with hundreds of substrate strands serving as DNA tracks and dozens of DNAzyme molecules each silenced by a locking strand. Intracellular interaction of a target molecule with the motor system initiates the autonomous walking of the motor on the AuNP. An example DNAzyme motor responsive to a specific microRNA enables amplified detection of the specific microRNA in individual cancer cells. Activated by specific intracellular targets, these self-powered DNAzyme motors will have diverse applications in the control and modulation of biological functions.

Suggested Citation

  • Hanyong Peng & Xing-Fang Li & Hongquan Zhang & X. Chris Le, 2017. "A microRNA-initiated DNAzyme motor operating in living cells," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms14378
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14378
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    Cited by:

    1. Jiaqi Yan & Xiaodong Ma & Danna Liang & Meixin Ran & Dongdong Zheng & Xiaodong Chen & Shichong Zhou & Weijian Sun & Xian Shen & Hongbo Zhang, 2023. "An autocatalytic multicomponent DNAzyme nanomachine for tumor-specific photothermal therapy sensitization in pancreatic cancer," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-21, December.

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