Characterization and Optimization of a Deoxyribozyme with a Short Left Binding Arm.

Abstract

Deoxyribozymes capable of catalyzing sequence-specific RNA cleavage have broad applications in biotechnology. In vitro selected RNA-cleaving deoxyribozymes normally contain two substrate-binding arms and a central catalytic core region. Here, we describe the systematic characterization and optimization of an RNA-cleaving deoxyribozyme with an unusually short left binding arm, and its special sequence requirement for its optimal catalytic activity.