New strategy in the gene therapy: Design and application of catalytic DNA

Catalytic DNAs,also named deoxyribozymes,DNAzymes or DNA enzymes,were synthetic oligodeoxynuckeotides able to specifically bind and cleave different target RNAs.10 23,8 17 and HD2 deoxyribozymes were the main catalytic DNAs that have been found.It was reported that those catalytic DNAs,especially 10 23 deoxyribozyme,could be used to cleave and suppress various mRNAs of pathogenic microbes,malignant tumors and some genetic diseases.Their structures,mechanisms of cleaving RNA,dynamic characteristics,current application were summarized;and the design principle,advantages of using as new gene therapeutic tools,possible application in future were discussed.