Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, L8S 4K1, Canada.
Department of Biology, Institute of Resources and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454000, Henan, P. R. China.
Chembiochem. 2021 Jul 15;22(14):2368-2383. doi: 10.1002/cbic.202100087. Epub 2021 May 17.
Functional nucleic acids (FNAs), including naturally occurring ribozymes and riboswitches as well as artificially created DNAzymes and aptamers, have been popular molecular toolboxes for diverse applications. Given the high chemical stability of nucleic acids and their ability to fold into diverse sequence-dependent structures, FNAs are suggested to be highly functional under unusual reaction conditions. This review will examine the progress of research on FNAs under conditions of low pH, high temperature, freezing conditions, and the inclusion of organic solvents and denaturants that are known to disrupt nucleic acid structures. The FNA species to be discussed include ribozymes, riboswitches, G-quadruplex-based peroxidase mimicking DNAzymes, RNA-cleaving DNAzymes, and aptamers. Research within this space has not only revealed the hidden talents of FNAs but has also laid important groundwork for pursuing these intriguing functional macromolecules for unique applications.
功能性核酸（FNAs），包括天然存在的核酶和核糖开关以及人工合成的 DNA 酶和适体，已成为各种应用的热门分子工具盒。鉴于核酸的高化学稳定性及其能够折叠成多种序列依赖性结构的能力，FNAs 被认为在异常反应条件下具有很高的功能。本综述将探讨 FNAs 在低 pH 值、高温、冷冻条件以及包含已知破坏核酸结构的有机溶剂和变性剂的条件下的研究进展。将讨论的 FNA 种类包括核酶、核糖开关、基于 G-四链体的过氧化物酶模拟 DNA 酶、RNA 切割 DNA 酶和适体。该领域的研究不仅揭示了 FNAs 的隐藏才能，而且为追求这些有趣的功能大分子用于独特的应用奠定了重要基础。
