Nucleic acid templated chemistry
Encyclopedia
Nucleic acid templated chemistry (NATC), or DNA-templated chemistry, is principally a new tool to synthesize
chemical compounds. The main advantage of the NAT-chemistry (NATC) is performing of the chemical reaction
as an intramolecular reaction. The two oligonucleotide
s or their analogues are linked via chemical groups to precursors
of chemical compounds. The oligonucleotides recognize specific nucleic acid
s and are hybridized sterically
close to each other. Afterwards the chemical active groups interact with each other to combine the precursors into a completely new chemical compound. NATC is usually used to perform the synthesis of complex compounds without need to protect chemically active groups during the synthesis.
In 1999 Pavel Sergeev suggested to use NATC to synthesize biologically active compounds within living organisms. The main idea is to use NATC to synthesize specific biologically active compounds within human cells. The precursors are distributed in the whole human body and the chemical reactions are performed only within cells having specific RNA
molecules. This approach allows very specific synthesis within peculiar tissues or within specific cells of the tissue. It is especially a new tool to deliver medications to cancer cells. Additionally biologically active compounds could be delivered to specific cells within humans to promote the targeted cells to divisions. NATC also opens the possibility to treat bacterial diseases. Many scientific groups performed NATC in vivo to visualize eucaryotic as well as bacterial cells. As a principle it opens new perspectives to treat oncological and bacterial diseases as well as to visualize them.
Chemical synthesis
In chemistry, chemical synthesis is purposeful execution of chemical reactions to get a product, or several products. This happens by physical and chemical manipulations usually involving one or more reactions...
chemical compounds. The main advantage of the NAT-chemistry (NATC) is performing of the chemical reaction
Chemical reaction
A chemical reaction is a process that leads to the transformation of one set of chemical substances to another. Chemical reactions can be either spontaneous, requiring no input of energy, or non-spontaneous, typically following the input of some type of energy, such as heat, light or electricity...
as an intramolecular reaction. The two oligonucleotide
Oligonucleotide
An oligonucleotide is a short nucleic acid polymer, typically with fifty or fewer bases. Although they can be formed by bond cleavage of longer segments, they are now more commonly synthesized, in a sequence-specific manner, from individual nucleoside phosphoramidites...
s or their analogues are linked via chemical groups to precursors
Precursor (chemistry)
In chemistry, a precursor is a compound that participates in the chemical reaction that produces another compound. In biochemistry, the term "precursor" is used more specifically to refer to a chemical compound preceding another in a metabolic pathway....
of chemical compounds. The oligonucleotides recognize specific nucleic acid
Nucleic acid
Nucleic acids are biological molecules essential for life, and include DNA and RNA . Together with proteins, nucleic acids make up the most important macromolecules; each is found in abundance in all living things, where they function in encoding, transmitting and expressing genetic information...
s and are hybridized sterically
Steric effects
Steric effects arise from the fact that each atom within a molecule occupies a certain amount of space. If atoms are brought too close together, there is an associated cost in energy due to overlapping electron clouds , and this may affect the molecule's preferred shape and reactivity.-Steric...
close to each other. Afterwards the chemical active groups interact with each other to combine the precursors into a completely new chemical compound. NATC is usually used to perform the synthesis of complex compounds without need to protect chemically active groups during the synthesis.
In 1999 Pavel Sergeev suggested to use NATC to synthesize biologically active compounds within living organisms. The main idea is to use NATC to synthesize specific biologically active compounds within human cells. The precursors are distributed in the whole human body and the chemical reactions are performed only within cells having specific RNA
RNA
Ribonucleic acid , or RNA, is one of the three major macromolecules that are essential for all known forms of life....
molecules. This approach allows very specific synthesis within peculiar tissues or within specific cells of the tissue. It is especially a new tool to deliver medications to cancer cells. Additionally biologically active compounds could be delivered to specific cells within humans to promote the targeted cells to divisions. NATC also opens the possibility to treat bacterial diseases. Many scientific groups performed NATC in vivo to visualize eucaryotic as well as bacterial cells. As a principle it opens new perspectives to treat oncological and bacterial diseases as well as to visualize them.