Towards DNA-Bodies : A Novel Polymer Structure for Biological Recognition

Abstract: There are different kinds of recognition molecules that specifically can detect and bind target molecules. Antibodies, with their two light and two heavy chains can detect and bind any kind of antigens. Molecular imprinting is a technology to prepare specific polymers that selectively bind target molecules. The technology has received wide attention in recent years because it provides a viable method for creating a polymer that is complementary in shape and binding sites to a template. The synthesized polymer is called a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) or a plastibody. Molecular imprinting shows promise in diverse areas as chromatography, antibody mimics, solid phase extraction and more. An alternative to molecular imprinting and other types of recognition has recently been postulated where DNA polymers based on functionalized polynucleotides build up a polymer network that are able to specifically recognize a target. This approach is characterized by binding of oligonucleotides carrying functional organic groups, to the target molecule followed by connecting the functionalized oligonucleotides forming a DNA polymer that specifically recognizes the target. The polymer is called a DNAbody. Thus, a DNAbody is a polymer structure based on DNA conjugated with functional organic groups which specifically can detect and bind to a template. The DNA-bodies can be copied and produced in larger amounts by PCR. This study showed that at least one functional oligonucleotide was able to interact with the target antibody. It was also seen that some interaction occurred between the DNA and protein. The results also indicated that it is possible to perfom DNA polymerase reactions in presence of an antibody.