Mutation, apoptosis and cancer can develop from damaged DNA, however the cell produces proteins capable of repairing DNA to prevent these dangerous effects. One of these proteins produced by cells, 8-oxoG DNA glycosylase/AP lyase (hOGG1), targets DNA lesions caused by reactive oxygen species. Typically studying this glycosylase requires large instrumentation, such as HPLC, or radioactive labeling. Ru-Qin Yu and coworkers at Hunan University developed a system, where the hOGG1 cleaves at the mismatch site on a DNA strand, and releases a DNAzyme mimetic, which produces a colored signal. This rapid and sensitive colorimetric assay measured the activity of hOGG1 for a range of concentrations, with an affordable DNA probe, and user-friendly instrumentation.
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A novel DNAzyme-based colorimetric assay for the detection of hOGG1 activity with lambda exonuclease cleavage
Shu-Cheng Liu, Hui-Wang Wu, Jian-hui Jiang, Guo-Li Shen and Ru-Qin Yu
Anal. Methods, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AY26018B