DNAzyme mediated post-transcriptional gene silencing: A novel therapeutic approach

The increasing understanding of the regulatory mechanisms involved in the progression of diseases is opening up opportunities for new therapeutic intervention. DNAzymes, derived by in vitro selection processes, is one such discovery that has potential for selective gene silencing. The first report on DNAzymes came nearly eighteen years ago and since then hundreds of DNA sequences have been isolated in many research laboratories around the world to facilitate many chemical transformations of biological importance. These catalytic molecules have been successfully used against several targets including viruses, cardiovascular diseases, cancers and brain disorders with commendable results. The recent years have witnessed the use of these catalytic molecules for various innovation driven applications ranging from biosensing to gene regulation. This review will discuss the discovery, synthesis and applications of DNAzymes as potential therapeutic molecules.