In vitro selection of a sodium-specific DNAzyme and its application in intracellular sensing
Abstract
Monovalent ions, such as Na+, play important roles in biology, yet few sensors that image intracellular Na+ have been reported. Although deoxyribozymes (DNAzymes) have been shown to be a promising platform for detection of metal ions, most reported DNAzymes require multivalent metal ions for catalytic activity. Existing monovalent ion-responsive DNAzymes have poor selectivity for Na+, low catalytic rate, and require high ion concentrations for function. Here, we report in vitro selection of the first (to our knowledge) highly selective, sensitive, and efficient Na+-specific, RNA-cleaving DNAzyme and its conversion into a catalytic beacon sensor for imaging Na+ in living cells, using an efficient cationic polypeptide delivery method, together with a photocaging strategy, to allow controllable activation of the DNAzyme probe inside cells.
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- May 2015
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.1420361112
- Bibcode:
- 2015PNAS..112.5903T