DNAzyme analysis indicates best quantities of enzyme and substrate

The ideal proportions of enzyme and substrate for excising specific sections of RNA as a means of manufacturing the sequences in bulk have been determined by scientists writing in BMC Biotechnology.

A team from the University of Houston collaborated with local biotech firm BioTex to determine how DNAzymes - sequences of genetic code with enzymatic features - can be used with RNA substrates to manufacture specific sections of RNA.

They used a pair of biotinylated 8-17 DNAzymes to achieve this, excising 71-nucleotide recombinant RNA from a chimerical Vibrio proteolyticus gene transferred into E coli cells.

Ideal enzyme and substrate proportions were found to occur at a ratio of RNA substrate to enzymes of 1:10:10, with the latter figures relating to Pen17zyme1B and Pen17zyme2.

BMC Biotechnology specialises in studies of how experimental procedures may make use of organisms or biological macromolecules for pharmaceutical and agricultural biotechnology applications, as well as in allied industries.