Using Modified Synthetic Oligonucleotides to Assay Nucleic Acid-Metabolizing EnzymesRonja Stelzer 1, Elizabeth Rzoska-Smith 1, Sigurd Gundesø 2, Ulli Rothweiler 2, Adele Williamson 1
1University of Waikato, 2ArcticZymes Technologies ASA
Here, a protocol for assaying nucleic acid metabolizing enzymes is presented, using examples of ligase, nuclease, and polymerase enzymes. The assay utilizes fluorescently labeled and unlabeled oligonucleotides that can be combined to form duplexes mimicking RNA and/or DNA damages or pathway intermediates, allowing for the characterization of enzyme behavior.