Exploratie van nieuwe labeling methodes voor sequentie specifieke DNA modificatie

DNA underpins the structural and functional organization of all known living systems. Its sequence and chemical modifications are intricately linked to gene regulation, epigenetic control, and phenotypic diversity, rendering sequence-specific DNA recognition and modification one of the most active frontiers in biotechnology. Methyltransferase (MTase)-guided system has been established as a powerful tool for site-specific DNA labeling and employed for a range of genomic and epigenetic applications, such as optical DNA mapping (ODM). However, a few limitations remain for this technique and its applications, including limited MTase-ligand pairs, unstable SAM analogues, methylation-sensitive labeling, and insufficient optical resolution in ODM. Moreover, although various enzyme-mediated technologies have been established over the past few decades, great interest lies in the potential of an enzyme-free approach, enabling sequence-specific DNA labeling with synthetically feasible and sequence-programmable small molecules. In this project, we aim to explore and develop novel labeling tools to address these limitations. By attempting to improve on the very core technology of ODM platform, this project holds the potential to truly reshape the ongoing research within the entire group.