Merging Boron and Nucleic Acid Chemistries

Over the past few decades, boron and nucleic acid chemistries have attracted significant attention for their applications in biology, medicine, and analytical sciences. Our laboratory has maintained a long-standing interest in both fields. Leveraging the unique ability of boronic acids to interact with cis-diol functions in aqueous media, we have developed a wide range of applications—from molecular recognition and sensing to the design of reversible dynamic systems where the natural phosphodiester linkage is replaced with a boronate. The reversible formation of boronate esters occurs in a templated manner and has been shown to restore the activity of split DNA and RNA enzymes, as well as a split fluorescent light-up aptamer. This reversibility is a crucial feature for biological self-assembly. In this discussion, we will explore the fundamental concept of stimuli-responsive boronate formation applied to nucleic acids, highlighting its potential for future research and innovation.