Nucleic acid engineering, examples

Finally, as we show in the last section of the chapter, the method is generally applicable to quantitating nucleic acids rather than just mRNAs. For example, establishment of gene copy number in engineered cell... 

Computational biochemistry and computer-assisted molecular modeling have rapidly become a vital component of biochemical research. Mechanisms of ligand-receptor and enzyme-substrate interactions, protein folding, protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid recognition, and de novo protein engineering are but a few examples of problems that may be addressed and facilitated by this technology. 

In the cell, nucleic acids are involved in the storage of genomic information and the production of proteins. However, other functions of nucleic acids, especially RNA, have been discovered. For example, ribosomal RNAs not only fold the structure of the ribosome but play an important role in protein synthesis (Moore and Steitz, 2002), and the RNA-induced silencing complex (RICS) is composed of a guide strand of siRNA or microRNA and proteins to control gene expression through RNA interference (Filipowicz, 2005). Those RNAs and proteins work cooperatively to achieve complicated tasks. This means that if we could engineer a nucleic acid-protein complex, we could construct more functional biosensor systems. 

In connection with this discussion it might be said that a rather simple method of structuring, such as, for example, distinguishing between the quantity of protein and the quantity of nucleic acids present, can lead to a great number of otherwise inaccessible parameters (Reuss, 1977). This can make an important contribution to the understanding of intracellular events. For engineering calculations, however, the primary claim of simplicity must also be satisfied. Furthermore, within the scope of the analytical methods presently available, distinctions among models are often simply not possible (Boyle and Berthouex, 1974). 

However, China lacks the capabihty to produce certain fine chemicals that are required only in small amounts but are nonetheless vital to the national economy. Examples are methionine, lysine, pantothenic acid, calcium, vitamins E, A and D, L-lactic acid, behenic acid, nucleic acid, artificial sweeteners, new types of enzyme, biodegradable polymers, long-chain fatty acids and new biotech-based pesticides. Most of China s fine chemicals are currently produced in small qnantities, and in relative technical and geographical isolation. This sector can only be developed if China s scientific and technological base is upgraded, especially in chemical engineering. 

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