Optimization study of the catalytic activity of DNAzymes based on telomeric G-quadruplexes

Abstract Optimization studies of the procedure for peroxidase activity measurements with DNAzymes based on telomeric sequences and colorimetric indicator reactions are reported. Effect of metal cation, nature and concentration of surfactant, as well as thermal treatment of G-quadruplex sample are investigated. Nature of metal cation exhibited modest influence on the system performance. Great improvement of enzymatic activity of the telomeric quadruplexes in the presence of Brij 58 surfactant was observed. Further improvement of catalytic activity of the system based on human telomeric sequence was attained by applying a thermal treatment (heating/rapid cooling) procedure to prepare G-quadruplex/hemin complexes.