title: A New Na(+)-Dependent RNA-Cleaving DNAzyme with over 1000-fold Rate Acceleration by Ethanol.
abstract: Enzymes working in organic solvents are important for analytical chemistry, catalysis, and mechanistic studies. Although a few protein enzymes are highly active in organic solvents, little is known regarding nucleic acid-based enzymes. Herein, we report the first RNA-cleaving DNAzyme, named EtNa, that works optimally in concentrated organic solvents containing only monovalent Na(+). The EtNa DNAzyme has a rate of 2.0 h(-1) in 54% ethanol (with 120 mM NaCl and no divalent metal ions), and a Kd of 21 mm Na(+). It retains activity even in 72% ethanol as well as in DMSO. With 4 mm Na(+), the rate in 54% ethanol is >1000-fold higher than that in water. We also demonstrated the use of EtNa to measuring the ethanol content in alcoholic drinks. In total, this DNAzyme has three unique features: divalent metal independent activity, Na(+) selectivity among monovalent metals, and acceleration by organic solvents.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China.|Department of Chemistry, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada.
authors.forename: Wenhu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada.
authors.forename: Runjhun
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saran
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada.
authors.forename: Qingyun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China.
authors.forename: Jinsong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China. liujw@uwaterloo.ca.|Department of Chemistry, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada. liujw@uwaterloo.ca.
authors.forename: Juewen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D021881:DNA, Catalytic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007477:Ions; D007700:Kinetics; D012964:Sodium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D021881:DNA, Catalytic; D007477:Ions; D000431:Ethanol; D012964:Sodium
keywords: DNAzymes; RNA cleavage; biosensors; organic solvents; sodium