RNA-Cleaving NAzymes: The Next Big Thing in Biosensing?

Saba Safdar; Jeroen Lammertyn; Dragana Spasic

doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.04.012

RNA-Cleaving NAzymes: The Next Big Thing in Biosensing?

Trends Biotechnol. 2020 Dec;38(12):1343-1359. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.04.012. Epub 2020 May 27.

Authors

Saba Safdar¹, Jeroen Lammertyn², Dragana Spasic¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biosystems, Biosensors Group, KU Leuven, 3001, Leuven, Belgium.
² Department of Biosystems, Biosensors Group, KU Leuven, 3001, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: jeroen.lammertyn@kuleuven.be.

PMID: 32473751
DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.04.012

Abstract

Nucleic acid enzymes (NAzymes) are nucleic acid molecules with catalytic activity. A subset, the RNA-cleaving NAzyme, is characterized by its substrate of choice: an RNA unit. These enzymes have been used for diverse applications, including biosensor development, akin to their protein counterparts. Owing to their function as both biorecognition elements and signal generators, robust bioassays based entirely on NAzyme molecules have been developed. Additionally, unique mechanisms for integration with other biorecognition elements and signal generation methods have been explored to realize ultrasensitive, specific, and user-friendly biosensors. Furthermore, NAzyme-based bioassays have already broken into the in vitro diagnostics market, with more promise in the pipeline.

Keywords: DNAzyme; MNAzyme; biorecognition element; biosensor; signal generation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Biosensing Techniques* / trends
DNA, Catalytic* / metabolism
RNA / metabolism
RNA, Catalytic / metabolism

Substances

DNA, Catalytic
RNA, Catalytic
RNA