REVIEW: Prospects for Using Self-Assembled Nucleic Acid Structures

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M. N. Rudchenko¹ and A. A. Zamyatnin, Jr.^2,3*

¹Research Division, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535E 70th Str., New York 10021, USA; fax: +212 (774) 7099; E-mail: rudchenkom@hss.edu

²Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Institute of Molecular Medicine, 119991 Moscow, Russia; fax: +7 (495) 622-9632; E-mail: zamyat@genebee.msu.ru

³Lomonosov Moscow State University, Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, 119991 Moscow, Russia

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received December 3, 2014

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According to the central dogma in molecular biology, nucleic acids are assigned with key functions on storing and executing genetic information in any living cell. However, features of nucleic acids are not limited only with properties providing template-dependent biosynthetic processes. Studies of DNA and RNA unveiled unique features of these polymers able to make various self-assembled three-dimensional structures that, among other things, use the complementarity principle. Here, we review various self-assembled nucleic acid structures as well as application of DNA and RNA to develop nanomaterials, molecular automata, and nanodevices. It can be expected that in the near future results of these developments will allow designing novel next-generation diagnostic systems and medicinal drugs.

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KEY WORDS: DNA, RNA, complementarity, aptamers, ribozyme, deoxyribozyme, molecular computing, molecular automata

DOI: 10.1134/S000629791504001X

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