Biomedical subjects

Yingfu Li

Publications and source records attributed to Yingfu Li.

40 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed2003

An efficient RNA-cleaving DNA enzyme that synchronizes catalysis with fluorescence signaling.

DNA enzymes are single-stranded DNA molecules with catalytic capabilities that are isolated from random-sequence DNA libraries by "in vitro selection". This new class of catalytic biomolecules has the potential of being used as unique molecular tools in a variety of innovative applications. Here we describe the creation and characterization of an RNA-cleaving autocatalytic DNA, DEC22-18, that uniquely links chemical catalysis with real-time fluorescence signaling capability in the same molecule. A trans-acting DNA molecule, DET22-18, was also developed from DEC22-18 that behaves as a true enzyme with a k(cat) of approximately 7 min(-1)-a rate constant that is the second largest ever reported for a DNA enzyme. It cleaves a chimeric RNA/DNA substrate at the lone RNA linkage surrounded by a closely spaced fluorophore-quencher pair-a unique structure that permits the synchronization of the chemical cleavage with fluorescence signaling. DET22-18 has a stem-loop structure and can be conjugated with DNA aptamers to form allosteric deoxyribozyme biosensors.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed2002

Tripartite molecular beacons.

Molecular beacons (MBs) are hairpin-like fluorescent DNA probes that have single-mismatch detection capability. Although they are extremely useful for many solution-based nucleic acid detections, MBs are expensive probes for applications that require the use of a large number of different DNA probes due to the high cost and tedious procedures associated with probe synthesis and purification. In addition, since both ends of MB probes are covalently modified with chromophores, they do not offer the flexibility for fluorophore change and the capability for surface immobilization through free DNA ends. In this report, we describe an alternative form of MB, denoted tripartite molecular beacon (TMB), that may help overcome these problems. A TMB uses an unmodified oligodeoxyribonucleotide that forms a MB-like structure with two universal single-stranded arms to bring on a universal pair of oligodeoxyribonucleotides modified separately with a fluorophore and a quencher. We found that TMBs are as effective as standard MBs in signaling the presence of matching nucleic acid targets and in precisely discriminating targets that differ by a single nucleotide. TMBs have the necessary flexibility that may make MBs more affordable for various nucleic acid detection applications.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2002

Making AppDNA using T4 DNA ligase.

5('),5(')-Adenylyl pyrophosphoryl DNA (AppDNA) contains a high-energy pyrophosphate linkage and can be exploited as an activated DNA substrate to derive new DNA enzymes for carrying out various DNA modification reactions. For this reason, enzymatic synthesis of AppDNA is highly desirable. AppDNA is a known intermediate in DNA ligase mediated DNA ligation reactions, but rarely accumulates under normal reaction conditions. Here we report that T4 DNA ligase can quantitatively convert 5(')-phosphoryl DNA donor into AppDNA in the absence of acceptor DNA but in the presence of a template DNA that contains at least one unpaired nucleotide opposite the 5(')-phosphoryl DNA donor site. This adenylylation behavior of T4 DNA ligase is not observed with Thermus aquaticus (Taq) and Escherichia coli DNA ligases. We further found that a donor-template duplex of 11-bp in length is required by T4 DNA ligase for the formation of AppDNA.

Adenosine Monophosphate↗

PubMed2002

Sequence diversity, metal specificity, and catalytic proficiency of metal-dependent phosphorylating DNA enzymes.

Although DNA has not been found responsible for biological catalysis, many artificial DNA enzymes have been created by "in vitro selection." Here we describe a new selection approach to assess the influence of four common divalent metal ions (Ca(2+), Cu(2+), Mg(2+), and Mn(2+)) on sequence diversity, metal specificity, and catalytic proficiency of self-phosphorylating deoxyribozymes. Numerous autocatalytic DNA sequences were isolated, a majority of which were selected using Cu(2+) or Mn(2+) as the divalent metal cofactor. We found that Cu(2+)- and Mn(2+)-derived deoxyribozymes were strictly metal specific, while those selected by Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) were less specific. Further optimization by in vitro evolution resulted in a Mn(2+)-dependent deoxyribozyme with a k(cat) of 2.8 min(-1). Our findings suggest that DNA has sufficient structural diversity to facilitate efficient catalysis using a broad scope of metal cofactor utilizing mechanisms.

Base Sequence↗