Nicking Endonucleases as Unique Tools for Biotechnology
and Gene Engineering1
L. A. Abrosimovaa, 1, O. V. Kisilb, E. A. Romanovaa, T. S. Oretskayaa, and E. A. Kubarevaa
aMoscow State University, Department of Chemistry and Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology,
Moscow, 119991 Russia
bGause Institute of New Antibiotics, Moscow, 119021 Russia
1Abbreviations: AuNPs, gold nanoparticles; NE, Nt., Nb., nicking endonucleases; RE, R., restriction endonucleases; aa, amino acid; bp, base pair; nt, nucleotide; ssDNA, single-stranded DNA.
1Corresponding author: phone: +7 (495) 939-31-48; fax: +7 (495) 939-31-81; e-mail: abrludmila@gmail.com.
Received 14 April, 2019
Abstract—Nicking endonucleases (NE) are a special group of the restriction endonucleases family. These unique enzymes catalyze the hydrolysis of only one DNA strand in a predetermined position relative to the recognition site. In this review, we summarize the engineering methods for NE construction: inactivation of the catalytic center of restriction endonucleases, disruption of enzyme dimerization interface, or random mutagenesis of the genes оf restriction endonucleases. The main methods of NE application in biotechnology and gene engineering are described. NE-mediated amplification for the enhancement of analytical signal in the detection of nucleic acids, proteins, and small molecules is characterized.
Keywords: nicking endonucleases, restriction endonucleases, DNA amplification, DNA hydrolysis, nucleic acid detection
DOI: 10.1134/S1068162019050017