Enzymatic Synthesis, Amplification, and Application of DNA with a Functionalized Backbone

Abstract

The ability to amplify DNA along with its unprecedented sequence control has led to its use for different applications, but all are limited by the properties available to natural nucleotides. We previously reported the evolution of polymerase SFM4‐3, which better tolerates 2′‐modified substrates. To explore the utility of SFM4‐3, we now report the characterization of its recognition of substrates with 2′‐azido, 2′‐chloro, 2′‐amino, or arabinose sugars. We find that SFM4‐3 can efficiently synthesize polymers composed of these nucleotides, and most interestingly, that SFM4‐3 can also PCR amplify these modified oligonucleotides. When combined with post‐amplification modification, the latter allows for the exponential amplification of polymers that may be functionalized with desired moieties arrayed in a controlled fashion, the utility of which we demonstrate with extensive small molecule functionalization and the production and initial characterization of a novel DNA hydrogel.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Oct 10, 2017
Source ID
10.1002/anie.201707367

Entities

People

  • Floyd E Romesberg
  • Tingjian Chen

Organizations

  • Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
  • Scripps Research

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Molecular Genetics
  • Nanoscale Plasmonic Nanotechnology