Functional nucleic acids as catalysts and molecular recognition elements

众所周知，核酸（DNA和RNA）是地球上所有生物中储存和传递遗传信息的遗传物质。自20世纪80年代初以来，核酸也显示出了其他的才能，包括执行诸如催化和结合等有趣功能的能力。大量天然和人工功能核酸的存在，在科学界产生了巨大的热情，研究功能核酸的基本特性，并探索它们在化学、生物学、材料科学和纳米技术等不同领域的新应用。我们的研究项目对研究三种不同类型的功能性核酸感兴趣：DNAzymes，适配体和核糖开关。DNAzymes是人造的单链DNA分子，可以作为催化剂。适配体是人造的单链DNA或RNA分子，能够与其他分子结合，如蛋白质和代谢物。核糖开关是细胞用来检测特定代谢物的天然RNA序列，这样它们就可以决定是否需要产生更多的代谢物或减缓其产生。这项NSERC发现基金旨在创造新概念和开发新方法，探索DNAzymes，适体和核糖开关作为化学和生物工具。例如，我们将致力于在分子水平上设计各种“信标”，用于检测细胞内外的特定分子。我们还将使用模型功能核酸来解决有关生物催化和分子识别的基本问题。这笔经费将使我的实验室在未来五年内继续在功能性核酸领域取得重要发现，并培养几名高技能的研究生。

Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) are widely known as the hereditary material for the storage and transmission of genetic information in all living organisms on earth. Since early 1980s, nucleic acids have been shown to have other talents as well, which include the ability to perform intriguing functions such as catalysis and binding. The existence of a large array of natural and artificial functional nucleic acids has generated tremendous enthusiasm in the scientific community for investigating fundamental properties of functional nucleic acids and for exploring them for novel applications in diverse fields including chemistry, biology, materials science, and nanotechnology. Our research program is interested in studying three different classes of functional nucleic acids: DNAzymes, aptamers and riboswitches. DNAzymes are man-made single-stranded DNA molecules that can act as catalysts. Aptamers are man-made single-stranded DNA or RNA molecules that are capable of binding to other molecules, such as proteins and metabolites. Riboswitches are natural RNA sequences that are used by cells to detect a specific metabolite so that they can make decisions as to whether they need to produce more of this metabolite or slow down its production. This NSERC Discovery Grant aims to create new concepts and develop new approaches that explore DNAzymes, aptamers and riboswitches as chemical and biological tools. For example, we will work on the design of various 'beacons' at molecular level for the detection of specific molecules both inside and outside of cells. We will also use model functional nucleic acids to address fundamental questions about biological catalysis and molecular recognition. This grant will allow my lab to continue to make important discoveries in the arena of functional nucleic acids and to train several highly skilled graduate students over the next five years.