The analytical and biomedical potential of cytosine-rich oligonucleotides: A review.
Polycytosine DNA strands are often found among natural sequences, including the ends of telomeres, centromeres, and introns or in the regulatory regions of genes. A characteristic feature of oligonucleotides that are rich in cytosine (C-rich) is their ability to associate under acidic conditions to form a tetraplex i-motif consisting of two parallel stranded cytosine-hemiprotonated cytosine (C·C+) base-paired duplexes that are mutually intercalated in an antiparallel orientation. Nanotechnology has been exploiting the advantages of i-motif pH-dependent formation to fabricate nanomachines, nanoswitches, electrodes and intelligent nanosurfaces or nanomaterials. Although a few reviews regarding the structure, properties and applications of i-motifs have been published, this review focuses on recently developed biosensors (e.g., to detect pH, glucose or silver ions) and drug-delivery biomaterials. Furthermore, we have included examples of sensors based on parallel C-rich triplexes and silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) fabricated on cytosine-rich DNA strands. The potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications of this type of material are discussed.
Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89b, 61-614 Poznan, Poland. Electronic address: aniojka@amu.edu.pl.
Anna
A
Dembska
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003596:Cytosine / Q000737:chemistry*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D008958:Models, Molecular; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry*; D012834:Silver / Q000032:analysis
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D009841:Oligonucleotides; D012834:Silver; D006046:Gold; D003596:Cytosine; D004247:DNA; D005947:Glucose
Glucose; Nanocontainers; Sensor; Silver (I) ions; i-motif; pH