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SCIENCE

The Claim

DNA enzymes (DNAzymes) are catalytic, single-stranded DNA molecules capable of performing sequence-specific biochemical reactions.

Verified by Lenz ·

The Short Version

The evidence strongly supports the claim. DNAzymes are widely described in the scientific literature as single-stranded DNA molecules with catalytic activity, and many are designed to recognize specific target sequences and carry out reactions such as site-specific RNA cleavage. Caveats about artificial selection or common metal-ion requirements do not contradict that core description.

Caveats

  • Many DNAzymes are generated or optimized in vitro rather than known as naturally occurring biological enzymes.
  • Sequence-specificity usually comes from complementary binding arms that position a target sequence for catalysis, not unlimited specificity for any substrate.
  • Some DNAzymes require particular ions or reaction conditions, so catalytic performance is not universal across all environments.

The Receipts

  1. Advances in DNAzyme Selection, Molecular Engineering and Applications

    National Center for Biotechnology Information

  2. DNAmoreDB, a database of DNAzymes

    Nucleic Acids Research

  3. A promising nucleic acid therapy drug: DNAzymes and its delivery system

    Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences

  4. Catalytic Nucleic Acids: Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, and Applications

    PubMed Central

  5. DNAzyme-Mediated Assays for Amplified Detection of Nucleic Acids and Proteins

    ACS Publications

  6. Structure of a 10-23 deoxyribozyme exhibiting a homodimer conformation

    Communications Chemistry (Nature)

  7. Catalytic DNA-Assisted Mass Production of Arbitrary Single-Stranded DNA

    Journal of the American Chemical Society (via PubMed)

  8. Sequence-specific cleavage of RNA in the absence of divalent metal ions by a DNAzyme incorporating imidazolyl and amino functionalities

    PubMed Central

  9. In vitro selection, characterization, and application of deoxyribozymes that cleave RNA

    Nucleic Acids Research

  10. Functional Nucleic Acid Enzymes: Nucleic Acid-Based Catalytic Factories

    ACS Catalysis

+ 24 more sources — see the full list on Lenz

Filed Under

DNA EnzymesDNAzymes