title: General Strategy to Introduce pH-Induced Allostery in DNA-Based Receptors to Achieve Controlled Release of Ligands.
abstract: Inspired by naturally occurring pH-regulated receptors, here we propose a rational approach to introduce pH-induced allostery into a wide range of DNA-based receptors. To demonstrate this we re-engineered two model DNA-based probes, a molecular beacon and a cocaine-binding aptamer, by introducing in their sequence a pH-dependent domain. We demonstrate here that we can finely tune the affinity of these model receptors and control the load/release of their specific target molecule by a simple pH change.
authors.affiliation: †Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, University of Rome, Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Porchetta
authors.affiliation: †Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, University of Rome, Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Idili
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vallée-Bélisle
authors.affiliation: †Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, University of Rome, Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ricci
mesh_terms: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry*; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D015342:DNA Probes / Q000737:chemistry*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000737:chemistry*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008024:Ligands; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation
chemical_list: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D015342:DNA Probes; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008024:Ligands; D004247:DNA; D003042:Cocaine
keywords: DNA nanotechnology; Nucleic acid; machines; molecular devices; pH; triplex