The developments of semisynthetic DNA–protein conjugates

• Published in: Trends in Biotechnology 2002-09, Vol.20 (9), p.395-401
• Main Author: Niemeyer, Christof M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical Methods; Binding Sites; Biochips; Biological and medical sciences; Biomimetics; Biosensing Techniques; Biosensors; Biotechnology; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Diagnostics; DNA; DNA - chemistry; Enzymes; Fabrication; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hybridization; Immunoassay - methods; Macromolecular Substances; Medical research; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Microarrays; Miniaturization; Nanoparticles; Nanostructures; Nanotechnology - methods; Nanotechnology - trends; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Nucleic Acids; Nucleic Acids - chemistry; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis - methods; Oligonucleotides - chemistry; Polypeptides; Proteins; Proteins - chemistry; Reagents; Streptavidin - chemistry; Various methods and equipments
• ISSN: 0167-7799; 1879-3096
• DOI: 10.1016/S0167-7799(02)02022-X

Semisynthetic DNA–protein conjugates, generated by either covalent or non-covalent coupling chemistry, are versatile molecular tools applicable in bioanalytical and synthetic chemical procedures. This article reviews the synthesis and characterization of artificial nucleic acid–protein conjugates, in addition to applications arising in the life sciences and nanobiotechnology, such as the self-assembly of high-affinity reagents for immunological detection assays and biosensors, the fabrication of laterally microstructured biochips, and the biomimetic ‘bottom-up’ synthesis of nanostructured supramolecular devices. Semisynthetic DNA-protein conjugates are versatile molecular tools in the life sciences and nanobiotechnology. This article reviews current applications of such conjugates in the self-assembly of high-affinity reagents and nanostructured supramolecular devices, as well as in the fabrication of microarrays.