biostudies-literaturePorchetta AAssociazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul CancroNatural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of CanadaEuropean Research CouncilEuropean Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation4467-71https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC4498449biostudies-literatureUnknown15(7)Inspired by naturally occurring pH-regulated receptors, here we propose a rational approach to introduce pH-induced allostery into a wide range of DNA-based receptors. To demonstrate this we re-engineered two model DNA-based probes, a molecular beacon and a cocaine-binding aptamer, by introducing in their sequence a pH-dependent domain. We demonstrate here that we can finely tune the affinity of these model receptors and control the load/release of their specific target molecule by a simple pH change.Nano lettersGeneral Strategy to Introduce pH-Induced Allostery in DNA-Based Receptors to Achieve Controlled Release of Ligands.PMC449844914420436381-2013336493Ricci FIdili APorchetta AVallee-Belisle AfalseGeneral Strategy to Introduce pH-Induced Allostery in DNA-Based Receptors to Achieve Controlled Release of Ligands.Inspired by naturally occurring pH-regulated receptors, here we propose a rational approach to introduce pH-induced allostery into a wide range of DNA-based receptors. To demonstrate this we re-engineered two model DNA-based probes, a molecular beacon and a cocaine-binding aptamer, by introducing in their sequence a pH-dependent domain. We demonstrate here that we can finely tune the affinity of these model receptors and control the load/release of their specific target molecule by a simple pH change.2015-01-01T00:00:00Z2015 Jul2025-04-05T09:02:43.534Z2019-03-27T01:54:57ZS-EPMC44984492605389410.1021/acs.nanolett.5b00852