Jörn Bargstedt

1 Introduction Since their discovery by Breaker and Joyce in 1994 [1]. DNAzymes have emerged as a distinct class of catalytic nucleic acids alongside naturally occurring ribozymes. Motivated by the structural and functional similarities between DNA and RNA, these authors applied an in vitro selection strategy and identified single-stranded DNA molecules capable of Pb2+-dependent cleavage of RNA phosphodiester bonds [1].

Photochromism is a reversible phenomenon wherein a material undergoes a change in color upon exposure to light. In organic photochromes, this effect often results from light-induced isomerization reactions, leading to alterations in either the spatial orientation or electronic properties of the photochrome. The incorporation of photochromic moieties into biomolecules, such as proteins or nucleic acids, has become a prevalent approach to render these biomolecules responsive to light stimuli.

1 Introduction The precise control of biomolecular structure and function is a fundamental goal in various scientific and biomedical fields, as it empowers researchers to dissect and manipulate complex processes within living organisms with unprecedented precision and finesse.