Abstract:

Silence of the small motif: Dz10‐66 functions at low monovalent ionic strength and exhibits the highest M2+‐independent self‐cleavage rate reported to date for any nucleic acid catalyst. Dz10‐66 also exhibits a catalytic efficiency similar to that of other known Mg2+‐dependent DNAzymes. The “tyranny of the small motif”, whereby certain subsequences dominate selections of increased library size did not prevail in the selection of a new DNAzyme with three protein‐like functionalities that catalyses intra‐ and intermolecular RNA cleavage.