archives@tulane.edu / A recent development in the field of DNA nanotechnology is the use of synthetic moieties that are tethered to DNA to construct functional nanostructures for a wide range of applications. Due to the unique properties such as molecular recognition, self-assembly, biocompatibility and water solubility, a large number of these modified DNA-based structures were developed for application in biomedical fields. One intriguing goal of the studies is to regulate protein activities with the DNA-based nano-switches. Conceptually mimicking an allosteric protein, a well-designed DNA-based switch can recognize a biomarker from the biological environment, and then undergo a major conformational change, leading to a switch between ON and OFF states for protein activity modulation.
This dissertation starts with a background on DNA Supramolecular Chemistry and also provides examples of the current mechanisms and strategies to control protein activities using DNA-based structures. The use of host-guest chemistry in conjugation with DNA systems is also discussed in this first chapter. Then, the development of two novel DNA-based transducers are described in the following chapters. The first transducer is based on a cucurbit[7]uril-DNA conjugate, which is capable of responding to an ATP input to release a carbonic anhydrase II (CA-II) inhibitor for protein activity regulation. The third chapter details an aptamer V7t1/DNA-small molecule chimera duplex that targets the CA-IX protein after recognizing a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) trigger, thus raising the possibility of rewiring the HIF-1α signaling pathway. / 1 / Xiao Zhou
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TULANE/oai:http://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/:tulane_110774 |
| Date | 31 December 2019 |
| Contributors | Zhou, Xiao (author), Jayawickramarajah, Janarthanan (Thesis advisor), School of Science & Engineering Chemistry (Degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Tulane University |
| Source Sets | Tulane University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | electronic, pages: 136 |
| Rights | No embargo, Copyright is in accordance with U.S. Copyright law. |
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