A Telomerase-Assisted Strategy for Regeneration of DNA Nanomachines in Living Cells |
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| Authors: | Dr Qianying Zhang Dr Yihan Wang Prof Wenjing Wang Prof Qianhao Min Prof Jian-Rong Zhang Prof Jun-Jie Zhu |
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| Institution: | 1. State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023 China;2. State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 China |
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| Abstract: | DNA nanomachines have been engineered into diverse personalized devices for diagnostic imaging of biomarkers; however, the regeneration of DNA nanomachines in living cells remains challenging. Here, we report an ingenious DNA nanomachine that can implement telomerase (TE)-activated regeneration in living cells. Upon apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1)-responsive initiation of the nanomachine, the walker of the nanomachine moves along tracks regenerated by TE, generating multiply amplified signals through which APE1 can be imaged in situ. Additionally, augmentation of the signal due to the regeneration of the nanomachines could reveal differential expression of TE in different cell lines. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first proof-of-concept demonstration of the use of biomarkers to assist in the regeneration of nanomachines in living cells. This study offers a new paradigm for the development of more applicable and efficient DNA nanomachines. |
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| Keywords: | DNA Nanomachines In Situ Imaging Intracellular Pathway Regeneration Multiply Amplified Signals Telomerase |
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