Value Proposition
· Enhanced accuracy: These enzymes may be used to more accurately sequence DNA
· Study control: light activated enzymes may be used for precise manipulation of helicases to be used for in-cell studies.
Unmet Need
· The enzymatic activity for DNA transcription and translation is frequently used in research and commercial spaces. While significant advances in the manipulation of nucleic acids have been made, sequencing techniques still suffer from accuracy issues. Furthermore, the need to cycle temperatures during these procedures places physical and time constraints on these technologies (Satam, 2023). There thus exists a need for a more accurate and flexible method of manipulating and sequencing DNA.
Technology Description
· Researchers at Johns Hopkins have developed a helicase enzyme that can be selectively activated and deactivated with an external light source. This technology has the potential to eliminate the need for thermocycling and also improve accuracy in DNA sequencing methods.
Stage of Development
· Benchtop proof of concept has been demonstrated.
Data Availability
· Data available upon request.
Publication
D. Bobrovnikov, M.A. Makurath, C.H. Wolfe, Y.R. Chemla, T. Ha, "Helicase Activity Modulation with On-Demand Light-Based Conformational Control."; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 39, 21253–21262.
