G-quadruplex-containing DNAzymes and aptamers are widely applied in many research fields because of their high stability and prominent activities versus the protein counterparts. In this work, G-quadruplex DNAs were equipped with photolabile groups to construct photocaged DNAzymes and aptamers. We incorporated TEEP-OH (thioether-enol phosphate, phenol substituted) into phosphodiester backbone of G-quadruplex DNA by a facile post-synthetic method to achieve efficient photocaging of their activities. Upon light irradiation, the peroxidase-mimicking activity of the caged G-quadruplex DNAzyme was activated, through the transformation of TEEP-OH into a native DNA phosphodiester without any artificial scar. Similarly, the caged G-quadruplex thrombin-binding aptamer also showed light-induced activation of thrombin inhibition activity. This method could serve as a general strategy to prepare photocaged G-quadruplex DNA with other activities for noninvasive control of their functions.

CRISPR-Cas9 promotes changes in identity or abundance of nucleic acids in live cells and is a programmable modality of broad biotechnological and therapeutic interest. To reduce off-target effects, tools for...

A fluorescence “turn-on” method for digestion-free analysis of 4-thiouridine (s4U) in nucleic acids was developed in this work based on the oxidative amination of s4U by fluoresceinamine (FAM-NH2) and periodate (IO4−).