1
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Zhao X, Liu Z, Liu Y, Lu M, Xu J, Wu F, Jin W. Development and application of an RNA nanostructure to induce transient RNAi in difficult transgenic plants. Biotechnol J 2024; 19:e2400024. [PMID: 38797726 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202400024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
The development of RNA interference (RNAi) is crucial for studying plant gene function. Its use, is limited to a few plants with well-established transgenic techniques. Spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) introduces exogenous double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into plants by spraying, injection, or irrigation, triggering the RNAi pathway to instantly silence target genes. As is a transient RNAi technology that does not rely on transgenic methods, SIGS has significant potential for studying gene function in plants lacking advanced transgenic technology. In this study, to enhance their stability and delivery efficiency, siRNAs were used as structural motifs to construct RNA nanoparticles (NPs) of four shapes: triangle, square, pentagon, and hexagon. These NPs, when synthesized by Escherichia coli, showed that triangular and square shapes accumulated more efficiently than pentagon and hexagon shapes. Bioassays revealed that RNA squares had the highest RNAi efficiency, followed by RNA triangles, with GFP-dsRNA showing the lowest efficiency at 4 and 7 days post-spray. We further explored the use of RNA squares in inducing transient RNAi in plants that are difficult to transform genetically. The results indicated that Panax notoginseng-derived MYB2 (PnMYB2) and Camellia oleifera-derived GUT (CoGUT) were significantly suppressed in P. notoginseng and C. oleifera, respectively, following the application of PnMYB2- and CoGUT-specific RNA squares. These findings suggest that RNA squares are highly effective in SIGS and can be utilized for gene function research in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiayang Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Plant Secondary Metabolism and Regulation of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhekai Liu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Secondary Metabolism and Regulation of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Sci-Tech University Shaoxing Academy of Biomedicine Co. Ltd., Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yiqing Liu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Secondary Metabolism and Regulation of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Sci-Tech University Shaoxing Academy of Biomedicine Co. Ltd., Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mingdong Lu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Secondary Metabolism and Regulation of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Sci-Tech University Shaoxing Academy of Biomedicine Co. Ltd., Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jinfeng Xu
- Zhejiang Sci-Tech University Shaoxing Academy of Biomedicine Co. Ltd., Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fangli Wu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Secondary Metabolism and Regulation of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Weibo Jin
- Key Laboratory of Plant Secondary Metabolism and Regulation of Zhejiang Province, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Sci-Tech University Shaoxing Academy of Biomedicine Co. Ltd., Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
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2
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Viktorsson K, Rieckmann T, Fleischmann M, Diefenhardt M, Hehlgans S, Rödel F. Advances in molecular targeted therapies to increase efficacy of (chemo)radiation therapy. Strahlenther Onkol 2023; 199:1091-1109. [PMID: 37041372 PMCID: PMC10673805 DOI: 10.1007/s00066-023-02064-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in understanding the tumor's biology in line with a constantly growing number of innovative technologies have prompted characterization of patients' individual malignancies and may display a prerequisite to treat cancer at its patient individual tumor vulnerability. In recent decades, radiation- induced signaling and tumor promoting local events for radiation sensitization were explored in detail, resulting the development of novel molecular targets. A multitude of pharmacological, genetic, and immunological principles, including small molecule- and antibody-based targeted strategies, have been developed that are suitable for combined concepts with radiation (RT) or chemoradiation therapy (CRT). Despite a plethora of promising experimental and preclinical findings, however, so far, only a very limited number of clinical trials have demonstrated a better outcome and/or patient benefit when RT or CRT are combined with targeted agents. The current review aims to summarize recent progress in molecular therapies targeting oncogenic drivers, DNA damage and cell cycle response, apoptosis signaling pathways, cell adhesion molecules, hypoxia, and the tumor microenvironment to impact therapy refractoriness and to boost radiation response. In addition, we will discuss recent advances in nanotechnology, e.g., RNA technologies and protein-degrading proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) that may open new and innovative ways to benefit from molecular-targeted therapy approaches with improved efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Viktorsson
- Department of Oncology/Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Visionsgatan 4, 17164, Solna, Sweden
| | - Thorsten Rieckmann
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Otolaryngology, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maximilian Fleischmann
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), University of Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Markus Diefenhardt
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), University of Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Stephanie Hehlgans
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Franz Rödel
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), University of Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany.
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) partner site: Frankfurt, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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3
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Khalifah BA, Alghamdi SA, Alhasan AH. Unleashing the potential of catalytic RNAs to combat mis-spliced transcripts. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1244377. [PMID: 38047291 PMCID: PMC10690607 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1244377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Human transcriptome can undergo RNA mis-splicing due to spliceopathies contributing to the increasing number of genetic diseases including muscular dystrophy (MD), Alzheimer disease (AD), Huntington disease (HD), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Intron retention (IR) is a major inducer of spliceopathies where two or more introns remain in the final mature mRNA and account for many intronic expansion diseases. Potential removal of such introns for therapeutic purposes can be feasible when utilizing bioinformatics, catalytic RNAs, and nano-drug delivery systems. Overcoming delivery challenges of catalytic RNAs was discussed in this review as a future perspective highlighting the significance of utilizing synthetic biology in addition to high throughput deep sequencing and computational approaches for the treatment of mis-spliced transcripts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bashayer A. Khalifah
- Institute for Bioengineering, Health Sector, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Ali H. Alhasan
- Institute for Bioengineering, Health Sector, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- College of Science and General Studies, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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4
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McRae EKS, Rasmussen HØ, Liu J, Bøggild A, Nguyen MTA, Sampedro Vallina N, Boesen T, Pedersen JS, Ren G, Geary C, Andersen ES. Structure, folding and flexibility of co-transcriptional RNA origami. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2023; 18:808-817. [PMID: 36849548 PMCID: PMC10566746 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-023-01321-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
RNA origami is a method for designing RNA nanostructures that can self-assemble through co-transcriptional folding with applications in nanomedicine and synthetic biology. However, to advance the method further, an improved understanding of RNA structural properties and folding principles is required. Here we use cryogenic electron microscopy to study RNA origami sheets and bundles at sub-nanometre resolution revealing structural parameters of kissing-loop and crossover motifs, which are used to improve designs. In RNA bundle designs, we discover a kinetic folding trap that forms during folding and is only released after 10 h. Exploration of the conformational landscape of several RNA designs reveal the flexibility of helices and structural motifs. Finally, sheets and bundles are combined to construct a multidomain satellite shape, which is characterized by individual-particle cryo-electron tomography to reveal the domain flexibility. Together, the study provides a structural basis for future improvements to the design cycle of genetically encoded RNA nanodevices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewan K S McRae
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Helena Østergaard Rasmussen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jianfang Liu
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Andreas Bøggild
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Michael T A Nguyen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Thomas Boesen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jan Skov Pedersen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Gang Ren
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Cody Geary
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ebbe Sloth Andersen
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
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5
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Jia X, Zhang C, Luo B, Frandsen JK, Watkins AM, Li K, Zhang M, Wei X, Yang Y, Henkin TM, Su Z. Cryo-EM-guided engineering of T-box-tRNA modules with enhanced selectivity and sensitivity in translational regulation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.28.530422. [PMID: 36909519 PMCID: PMC10002618 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.28.530422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Riboswitches are non-coding RNA elements that play vital roles in regulating gene expression. Their specific ligand-dependent structural reorganization facilitates their use as templates for design of engineered RNA switches for therapeutics, nanotechnology and synthetic biology. T-box riboswitches bind tRNAs to sense aminoacylation and control gene expression via transcription attenuation or translation inhibition. Here we determine the cryo-EM structure of the wild-type Mycobacterium smegmatis ileS T-box in complex with its cognate tRNA Ile . This structure shows a very flexible antisequestrator region that tolerates both 3'-OH and 2',3'-cyclic phosphate modification at the 3' end of tRNA Ile . Elongation of one helical turn (11-base pair) in both the tRNA acceptor arm and T-box Stem III maintains T-box-tRNA complex formation and increases the selectivity for tRNA 3' end modification. Moreover, elongation of Stem III results in ∼6-fold tighter binding to tRNA, which leads to increased sensitivity of downstream translational regulation indicated by precedent translation. Our results demonstrate that cryo-EM can guide RNA engineering to design improved riboswitch modules for translational regulation, and potentially a variety of additional functions.
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6
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Parsons MF, Allan MF, Li S, Shepherd TR, Ratanalert S, Zhang K, Pullen KM, Chiu W, Rouskin S, Bathe M. 3D RNA-scaffolded wireframe origami. Nat Commun 2023; 14:382. [PMID: 36693871 PMCID: PMC9872083 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36156-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Hybrid RNA:DNA origami, in which a long RNA scaffold strand folds into a target nanostructure via thermal annealing with complementary DNA oligos, has only been explored to a limited extent despite its unique potential for biomedical delivery of mRNA, tertiary structure characterization of long RNAs, and fabrication of artificial ribozymes. Here, we investigate design principles of three-dimensional wireframe RNA-scaffolded origami rendered as polyhedra composed of dual-duplex edges. We computationally design, fabricate, and characterize tetrahedra folded from an EGFP-encoding messenger RNA and de Bruijn sequences, an octahedron folded with M13 transcript RNA, and an octahedron and pentagonal bipyramids folded with 23S ribosomal RNA, demonstrating the ability to make diverse polyhedral shapes with distinct structural and functional RNA scaffolds. We characterize secondary and tertiary structures using dimethyl sulfate mutational profiling and cryo-electron microscopy, revealing insight into both global and local, base-level structures of origami. Our top-down sequence design strategy enables the use of long RNAs as functional scaffolds for complex wireframe origami.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly F Parsons
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Matthew F Allan
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Computational and Systems Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Shanshan Li
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- MOE Key Laboratory for Cellular Dynamics and Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Tyson R Shepherd
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Inscripta, Inc., Boulder, CO, 80027, USA
| | - Sakul Ratanalert
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Kaiming Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- MOE Key Laboratory for Cellular Dynamics and Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Krista M Pullen
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Wah Chiu
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- CryoEM and Bioimaging Division, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Silvi Rouskin
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark Bathe
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
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7
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Elonen A, Natarajan AK, Kawamata I, Oesinghaus L, Mohammed A, Seitsonen J, Suzuki Y, Simmel FC, Kuzyk A, Orponen P. Algorithmic Design of 3D Wireframe RNA Polyhedra. ACS NANO 2022; 16:16608-16616. [PMID: 36178116 PMCID: PMC9620399 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c06035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
We address the problem of de novo design and synthesis of nucleic acid nanostructures, a challenge that has been considered in the area of DNA nanotechnology since the 1980s and more recently in the area of RNA nanotechnology. Toward this goal, we introduce a general algorithmic design process and software pipeline for rendering 3D wireframe polyhedral nanostructures in single-stranded RNA. To initiate the pipeline, the user creates a model of the desired polyhedron using standard 3D graphic design software. As its output, the pipeline produces an RNA nucleotide sequence whose corresponding RNA primary structure can be transcribed from a DNA template and folded in the laboratory. As case examples, we design and characterize experimentally three 3D RNA nanostructures: a tetrahedron, a triangular bipyramid, and a triangular prism. The design software is openly available and also provides an export of the targeted 3D structure into the oxDNA molecular dynamics simulator for easy simulation and visualization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antti Elonen
- Department
of Computer Science, Aalto University, 00076 Aalto, Finland
| | | | - Ibuki Kawamata
- Department
of Robotics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
- Natural
Science Division, Faculty of Core Research, Ochanomizu University, Tokyo 112-8610, Japan
| | - Lukas Oesinghaus
- Physics
Department E14, Technical University Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Abdulmelik Mohammed
- Department
of Computer Science, Aalto University, 00076 Aalto, Finland
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, San José
State University, San José, California 95192, United States
| | - Jani Seitsonen
- Department
of Applied Physics and Nanomicroscopy Center, Aalto University, 00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Yuki Suzuki
- Department
of Robotics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
- Frontier
Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
- Division
of Chemistry for Materials, Graduate School of Engineering, Mie University, Tsu 514-8507, Japan
| | - Friedrich C. Simmel
- Physics
Department E14, Technical University Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Anton Kuzyk
- Department
of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University, 00076 Aalto, Finland
| | - Pekka Orponen
- Department
of Computer Science, Aalto University, 00076 Aalto, Finland
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8
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George R, Hehlgans S, Fleischmann M, Rödel C, Fokas E, Rödel F. Advances in nanotechnology-based platforms for survivin-targeted drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2022; 17:733-754. [PMID: 35593177 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2022.2077329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Due to its unique functional impact on multiple cancer cell circuits including proliferation, apoptosis, tumor dissemination, DNA damage repair and immune response, the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) survivin has gained high interest as a molecular target and a multitude of therapeutics were developed to interfere with survivin expression and functionality. First clinical evaluations of these therapeutics, however, were disappointing highlighting the need to develop advanced delivery systems of survivin-targeting molecules to increase stability, bioavailability as well as the selective guidance to tumor tissue. AREAS COVERED : This review focuses on advancements in nanocarriers to molecularly target survivin in human malignancies. A plethora of nanoparticle platforms, including liposomes, polymeric systems, dendrimers, inorganic nanocarriers, RNA/DNA nanotechnology and exosomes are discussed in the background of survivin-tailored RNA interference, small molecule inhibitors, dominant negative mutants or survivin vaccination or combined modality treatment with chemotherapeutic drugs and photo- dynamic/photothermal strategies. EXPERT OPINION Novel therapeutic approaches include the use of biocompatible nanoformulations carrying gene silencing or drug molecules to directly or indirectly target proteins, allow for a more precise and controlled delivery of survivin therapeutics. Moreover, surface modification of these nanocarriers may result in a tumor entity specific delivery. Therefore, nanomedicine exploiting survivin-tailored strategies in a multimodal background is considered the way forwaerd to enhance the development of future personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosemol George
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Stephanie Hehlgans
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Maximillian Fleischmann
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Claus Rödel
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) partner site: Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Emmanouil Fokas
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) partner site: Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Franz Rödel
- Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) partner site: Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany
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9
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Bachurin SS, Kletskii ME, Burov ON, Bibov MY, Dobaeva NM, Berezovskiy DP. Oligonucleotides-transformers for molecular biology and nanoengineering. Gene X 2022; 820:146277. [PMID: 35149154 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present review, numerous experimental and theoretical data describing the properties of non-canonical DNA structures (NSs) are analyzed. NSs (G-quadruplex, i-motif, hairpin, and triplex) play an important role in epigenetic processes (including the genetic variability of viruses), are prone to energetically low-cost conformational transformations and can very effectively be used in the design of nanoscale devices. Numerous experimental data have been analyzed in connection with the so-called oligonucleotides-transformers (nucleotide sequences that able to fold not only into one, but also into several NSs). These sequences were recently predicted by our calculations using automata and graph theories ("Dafna" algorithm). Possible applications of the oligonucleotides-transformers in nanoengineering and genetic editing of organisms are considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislav S Bachurin
- Rostov State Medical University, 29 Nakhichevanskiy Lane, Rostov-on-Don 344022, Russian Federation.
| | - Mikhail E Kletskii
- Chemical Department of Southern Federal University, 7 Zorge Str, Rostov-on-Don 344090, Russian Federation
| | - Oleg N Burov
- Chemical Department of Southern Federal University, 7 Zorge Str, Rostov-on-Don 344090, Russian Federation
| | - Mikhail Yu Bibov
- Rostov State Medical University, 29 Nakhichevanskiy Lane, Rostov-on-Don 344022, Russian Federation
| | - Natalya M Dobaeva
- Rostov State Medical University, 29 Nakhichevanskiy Lane, Rostov-on-Don 344022, Russian Federation
| | - Dmitriy P Berezovskiy
- I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), build. 4, 2 Bolshaya Pirogovskaya Str, Moscow 119435, Russian Federation
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10
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Huang M, Xiong E, Wang Y, Hu M, Yue H, Tian T, Zhu D, Liu H, Zhou X. Fast microwave heating-based one-step synthesis of DNA and RNA modified gold nanoparticles. Nat Commun 2022; 13:968. [PMID: 35181653 PMCID: PMC8857241 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28627-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA/RNA-gold nanoparticle (DNA/RNA-AuNP) nanoprobes have been widely employed for nanobiotechnology applications. Here, we discover that both thiolated and non-thiolated DNA/RNA can be efficiently attached to AuNPs to achieve high-stable spherical nucleic acid (SNA) within minutes under a domestic microwave (MW)-assisted heating-dry circumstance. Further studies show that for non-thiolated DNA/RNA the conjugation is poly (T/U) tag dependent. Spectroscopy, test strip hybridization, and loading counting experiments indicate that low-affinity poly (T/U) tag mediates the formation of a standing-up conformation, which is distributed in the outer layer of SNA structure. In further application studies, CRISPR/Cas9-sgRNA (136 bp), SARS-CoV-2 RNA fragment (1278 bp), and rolling circle amplification (RCA) DNA products (over 1000 bp) can be successfully attached on AuNPs, which overcomes the routine methods in long-chain nucleic acid-AuNP conjugation, exhibiting great promise in biosensing and nucleic acids delivery applications. Current heating-dry strategy has improved traditional DNA/RNA-AuNP conjugation methods in simplicity, rapidity, cost, and universality. Simple methods for attaching polynucleotides to gold nanoparticles are of interest for simplifying conjugation in a range of applications. Here, the authors report a microwave heating-based method for the fast, one-step attachment of a range of thiolated or non-thiolated DNA and RNA to gold nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengqi Huang
- School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, 510631, Guangzhou, China
| | - Erhu Xiong
- School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, 510631, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Yan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, South China Normal University, 510006, Guangzhou, China
| | - Menglu Hu
- School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, 510631, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huahua Yue
- School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, 510631, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tian Tian
- School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, 510631, Guangzhou, China
| | - Debin Zhu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biomedicine, School of Chemistry, South China Normal University, 510006, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, South China Normal University, 510006, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoming Zhou
- School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, 510631, Guangzhou, China.
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11
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Zhu G, Song P, Wu J, Luo M, Chen Z, Chen T. Application of Nucleic Acid Frameworks in the Construction of Nanostructures and Cascade Biocatalysts: Recent Progress and Perspective. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 9:792489. [PMID: 35071205 PMCID: PMC8777461 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.792489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acids underlie the storage and retrieval of genetic information literally in all living organisms, and also provide us excellent materials for making artificial nanostructures and scaffolds for constructing multi-enzyme systems with outstanding performance in catalyzing various cascade reactions, due to their highly diverse and yet controllable structures, which are well determined by their sequences. The introduction of unnatural moieties into nucleic acids dramatically increased the diversity of sequences, structures, and properties of the nucleic acids, which undoubtedly expanded the toolbox for making nanomaterials and scaffolds of multi-enzyme systems. In this article, we first introduce the molecular structures and properties of nucleic acids and their unnatural derivatives. Then we summarized representative artificial nanomaterials made of nucleic acids, as well as their properties, functions, and application. We next review recent progress on constructing multi-enzyme systems with nucleic acid structures as scaffolds for cascade biocatalyst. Finally, we discuss the future direction of applying nucleic acid frameworks in the construction of nanomaterials and multi-enzyme molecular machines, with the potential contribution that unnatural nucleic acids may make to this field highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gan Zhu
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ping Song
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Wu
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Minglan Luo
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhipeng Chen
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tingjian Chen
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
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12
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Ortolá B, Daròs JA. Production of Recombinant RNA in Escherichia coli Using Eggplant Latent Viroid as a Scaffold. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2316:315-327. [PMID: 34845704 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1464-8_25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Similar to viruses, viroids can also be engineered and transformed into useful biotechnological tools. We describe here a viroid-based system to produce large amounts of recombinant RNA in Escherichia coli. A precursor of eggplant latent viroid (ELVd), with the RNA of interest inserted between positions U245 and U246, is co-expressed in E. coli along the chloroplastic isoform of the eggplant tRNA ligase, the enzyme that mediates the circularization of this viroid in the infected plants. In the bacterial cells, the chimeric ELVd-RNA-of-interest precursor self-cleaves through the embedded hammerhead ribozymes, and the monomer is recognized and circularized by the co-expressed tRNA ligase. The resulting circular RNA, likely bound to the tRNA ligase, accumulates to a high concentration in the bacterial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beltrán Ortolá
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universitat Politècnica de València), Valencia, Spain
| | - José-Antonio Daròs
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universitat Politècnica de València), Valencia, Spain.
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13
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Wen X, Lin H, Ren Y, Li C, Zhang C, Lin J, Lin J. Allitol bioproduction by recombinant Escherichia coli with NADH regeneration system co-expressing ribitol dehydrogenase (RDH) and formate dehydrogenase (FDH) in individual or in fusion. ELECTRON J BIOTECHN 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejbt.2021.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
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14
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Arshad R, Fatima I, Sargazi S, Rahdar A, Karamzadeh-Jahromi M, Pandey S, Díez-Pascual AM, Bilal M. Novel Perspectives towards RNA-Based Nano-Theranostic Approaches for Cancer Management. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 11:3330. [PMID: 34947679 PMCID: PMC8708502 DOI: 10.3390/nano11123330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
In the fight against cancer, early diagnosis is critical for effective treatment. Traditional cancer diagnostic technologies, on the other hand, have limitations that make early detection difficult. Therefore, multi-functionalized nanoparticles (NPs) and nano-biosensors have revolutionized the era of cancer diagnosis and treatment for targeted action via attaching specified and biocompatible ligands to target the tissues, which are highly over-expressed in certain types of cancers. Advancements in multi-functionalized NPs can be achieved via modifying molecular genetics to develop personalized and targeted treatments based on RNA interference. Modification in RNA therapies utilized small RNA subunits in the form of small interfering RNAs (siRNA) for overexpressing the specific genes of, most commonly, breast, colon, gastric, cervical, and hepatocellular cancer. RNA-conjugated nanomaterials appear to be the gold standard for preventing various malignant tumors through focused diagnosis and delivering to a specific tissue, resulting in cancer cells going into programmed death. The latest advances in RNA nanotechnology applications for cancer diagnosis and treatment are summarized in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rabia Arshad
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lahore, Lahore 45320, Pakistan;
| | - Iqra Fatima
- Department of Pharmacy, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan;
| | - Saman Sargazi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Sciences in Infectious Diseases, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan 98167-43463, Iran;
| | - Abbas Rahdar
- Department of Physics, University of Zabol, Zabol 98613-35856, Iran
| | | | - Sadanand Pandey
- Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Science, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-Ro, Gyeongsan 38541, Korea;
| | - Ana M. Díez-Pascual
- Universidad de Alcalá, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Química Analítica, Química Física e Ingeniería Química, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona, Km. 33.6, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Muhammad Bilal
- School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai’an 223003, China;
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15
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Krissanaprasit A, Key CM, Pontula S, LaBean TH. Self-Assembling Nucleic Acid Nanostructures Functionalized with Aptamers. Chem Rev 2021; 121:13797-13868. [PMID: 34157230 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c01332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Researchers have worked for many decades to master the rules of biomolecular design that would allow artificial biopolymer complexes to self-assemble and function similarly to the diverse biochemical constructs displayed in natural biological systems. The rules of nucleic acid assembly (dominated by Watson-Crick base-pairing) have been less difficult to understand and manipulate than the more complicated rules of protein folding. Therefore, nucleic acid nanotechnology has advanced more quickly than de novo protein design, and recent years have seen amazing progress in DNA and RNA design. By combining structural motifs with aptamers that act as affinity handles and add powerful molecular recognition capabilities, nucleic acid-based self-assemblies represent a diverse toolbox for use by bioengineers to create molecules with potentially revolutionary biological activities. In this review, we focus on the development of self-assembling nucleic acid nanostructures that are functionalized with nucleic acid aptamers and their great potential in wide ranging application areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhichart Krissanaprasit
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Carson M Key
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Sahil Pontula
- Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States.,Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Thomas H LaBean
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
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16
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Chen S, Xing L, Zhang D, Monferrer A, Hermann T. Nano-sandwich composite by kinetic trapping assembly from protein and nucleic acid. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:10098-10105. [PMID: 34500473 PMCID: PMC8464029 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Design and preparation of layered composite materials alternating between nucleic acids and proteins has been elusive due to limitations in occurrence and geometry of interaction sites in natural biomolecules. We report the design and kinetically controlled stepwise synthesis of a nano-sandwich composite by programmed noncovalent association of protein, DNA and RNA modules. A homo-tetramer protein core was introduced to control the self-assembly and precise positioning of two RNA–DNA hybrid nanotriangles in a co-parallel sandwich arrangement. Kinetically favored self-assembly of the circularly closed nanostructures at the protein was driven by the intrinsic fast folding ability of RNA corner modules which were added to precursor complex of DNA bound to the protein. The 3D architecture of this first synthetic protein–RNA–DNA complex was confirmed by fluorescence labeling and cryo-electron microscopy studies. The synthesis strategy for the nano-sandwich composite provides a general blueprint for controlled noncovalent assembly of complex supramolecular architectures from protein, DNA and RNA components, which expand the design repertoire for bottom-up preparation of layered biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi Chen
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Li Xing
- Irvine Materials Research Institute, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Douglas Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Alba Monferrer
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Thomas Hermann
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +1 858 534 4467; Fax: +1 858 534 0202;
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17
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Folding RNA-Protein Complex into Designed Nanostructures. Methods Mol Biol 2021. [PMID: 34086284 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1499-0_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
RNA-protein (RNP) complexes are promising biomaterials for the fields of nanotechnology and synthetic biology. Protein-responsive RNA sequences (RNP motifs) can be integrated into various RNAs, such as messenger RNA, short-hairpin RNA, and synthetic RNA nanoobjects for a variety of purposes. Direct observation of RNP interaction in solution at high resolution is important in the design and construction of RNP-mediated nanostructures. Here we describe a method to construct and visualize RNP nanostructures that precisely arrange a target protein on the RNA scaffold with nanometer scale. High-speed AFM (HS-AFM) images of RNP nanostructures show that the folding of RNP complexes of defined sizes can be directly visualized at single RNP resolution in solution.
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18
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Yu Q, Ren K, You M. Genetically encoded RNA nanodevices for cellular imaging and regulation. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:7988-8003. [PMID: 33885099 PMCID: PMC8122502 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr08301a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acid-based nanodevices have been widely used in the fields of biosensing and nanomedicine. Traditionally, the majority of these nanodevices were first constructed in vitro using synthetic DNA or RNA oligonucleotides and then delivered into cells. Nowadays, the emergence of genetically encoded RNA nanodevices has provided a promising alternative approach for intracellular analysis and regulation. These genetically encoded RNA-based nanodevices can be directly transcribed and continuously produced inside living cells. A variety of highly precise and programmable nanodevices have been constructed in this way during the last decade. In this review, we will summarize the recent advances in the design and function of these artificial genetically encoded RNA nanodevices. In particular, we will focus on their applications in regulating cellular gene expression, imaging, logic operation, structural biology, and optogenetics. We believe these versatile RNA-based nanodevices will be broadly used in the near future to probe and program cells and other biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qikun Yu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA.
| | - Kewei Ren
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA.
| | - Mingxu You
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA.
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19
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Chemo-enzymatic synthesis of 13C- and 19F-labeled uridine-5′-triphosphate for RNA NMR probing. MONATSHEFTE FUR CHEMIE 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00706-021-02757-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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20
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Gerrits L, Hammink R, Kouwer PHJ. Semiflexible polymer scaffolds: an overview of conjugation strategies. Polym Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d0py01662d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Semiflexible polymers are excellent scaffolds for the presentation of a wide variety of (bio)molecules. This manuscript reviews advantages and challenges of the most common conjugation strategies for the major classes of semiflexible polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lotte Gerrits
- Institute for Molecules and Materials
- Radboud University
- 6525 AJ Nijmegen
- The Netherlands
| | - Roel Hammink
- Department of Tumor Immunology
- Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences
- Radboud University Medical Center
- 6525 GA Nijmegen
- The Netherlands
| | - Paul H. J. Kouwer
- Institute for Molecules and Materials
- Radboud University
- 6525 AJ Nijmegen
- The Netherlands
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21
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Site-specific covalent labeling of large RNAs with nanoparticles empowered by expanded genetic alphabet transcription. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:22823-22832. [PMID: 32868439 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2005217117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Conjugation of RNAs with nanoparticles (NPs) is of significant importance because of numerous applications in biology and medicine, which, however, remains challenging especially for large ones. So far, the majority of RNA labeling relies on solid-phase chemical synthesis, which is generally limited to RNAs smaller than 100 nucleotides (nts). We, here, present an efficient and generally applicable labeling strategy for site-specific covalent conjugation of large RNAs with a gold nanoparticle (Nanogold) empowered by transcription of an expanded genetic alphabet containing the A-T/U and G-C natural base pairs (bps) and the TPT3-NaM unnatural base pair (UBP). We synthesize an amine-derivatized TPT3 (TPT3A), which is site specifically incorporated into a 97-nt 3'SL RNA and a 719-nt minigenomic RNA (DENV-mini) from Dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV2) by in vitro T7 transcription. The TPT3A-modified RNAs are covalently conjugated with mono-Sulfo-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl (NHS)-Nanogold NPs via an amine and NHS ester reaction and further purified under nondenaturing conditions. TPT3 modification and Nanogold labeling cause minimal structural perturbations to the RNAs by circular dichroism, small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and binding activity assay. We demonstrate the application of the Nanogold-RNA conjugates in large RNA structural biology by an emerging molecular ruler, X-ray scattering interferometry (XSI). The internanoparticle distance distributions in the 3'SL and DENV-mini RNAs derived from XSI measurements support the hypothetical model of flavivirus genome circularization, thus, validate the applicability of this labeling strategy. The presented strategy overcomes the size constraints in conventional RNA labeling strategies and is expected to have wide applications in large RNA structural biology and RNA nanotechnology.
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22
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Badu S, Melnik R, Singh S. Mathematical and computational models of RNA nanoclusters and their applications in data-driven environments. MOLECULAR SIMULATION 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/08927022.2020.1804564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Shyam Badu
- MS2Discovery Interdisciplinary Research Institute, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Roderick Melnik
- MS2Discovery Interdisciplinary Research Institute, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
- BCAM-Basque Center for Applied Mathematics, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Sundeep Singh
- MS2Discovery Interdisciplinary Research Institute, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
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23
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Torelli E, Kozyra J, Shirt-Ediss B, Piantanida L, Voïtchovsky K, Krasnogor N. Cotranscriptional Folding of a Bio-orthogonal Fluorescent Scaffolded RNA Origami. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:1682-1692. [PMID: 32470289 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The scaffolded origami technique is an attractive tool for engineering nucleic acid nanostructures. This paper demonstrates scaffolded RNA origami folding in vitro in which, for the first time, all components are transcribed simultaneously in a single-pot reaction. Double-stranded DNA sequences are transcribed by T7 RNA polymerase into scaffold and staple strands able to correctly fold in a high synthesis yield into the nanoribbon. Synthesis is successfully confirmed by atomic force microscopy, and the unpurified transcription reaction mixture is analyzed by an in gel-imaging assay where the transcribed RNA nanoribbons are able to capture the specific dye through the reconstituted split Broccoli aptamer showing a clear green fluorescent band. Finally, we simulate the RNA origami in silico using the nucleotide-level coarse-grained model oxRNA to investigate the thermodynamic stability of the assembled nanostructure in isothermal conditions over a period of time. Our work suggests that the scaffolded origami technique is a viable, and potentially more powerful, assembly alternative to the single-stranded origami technique for future in vivo applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Torelli
- Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex BioSystems (ICOS), Centre for Synthetic Biology and Bioeconomy (CSBB), Devonshire Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RX, United Kingdom
| | - Jerzy Kozyra
- Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex BioSystems (ICOS), Centre for Synthetic Biology and Bioeconomy (CSBB), Devonshire Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RX, United Kingdom
| | - Ben Shirt-Ediss
- Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex BioSystems (ICOS), Centre for Synthetic Biology and Bioeconomy (CSBB), Devonshire Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RX, United Kingdom
| | - Luca Piantanida
- Department of Physics, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - Kislon Voïtchovsky
- Department of Physics, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - Natalio Krasnogor
- Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex BioSystems (ICOS), Centre for Synthetic Biology and Bioeconomy (CSBB), Devonshire Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RX, United Kingdom
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24
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Kasprzak WK, Ahmed NA, Shapiro BA. Modeling ligand docking to RNA in the design of RNA-based nanostructures. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2020; 63:16-25. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2019.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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25
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Chandler M, Johnson MB, Panigaj M, Afonin KA. Innate immune responses triggered by nucleic acids inspire the design of immunomodulatory nucleic acid nanoparticles (NANPs). Curr Opin Biotechnol 2020; 63:8-15. [PMID: 31778882 PMCID: PMC7246180 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2019.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The unknown immune stimulation by nucleic acid nanoparticles (NANPs) has become one of the major impediments to a broad spectrum of clinical developments of this novel technology. Having evolved to defend against bacterial and viral nucleic acids, mammalian cells have established patterns of recognition that are also the pathways through which NANPs can be processed. Explorations into the immune stimulation brought about by a vast diversity of known NANPs have shown that variations in design correlate with variations in immune response. Therefore, as the mechanisms of stimulation are further elucidated, these trends are now being taken into account in the design phase to allow for development of NANPs that are tailored for controlled immune activation or quiescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Chandler
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Morgan Brittany Johnson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Martin Panigaj
- Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, Kosice, 041 54, Slovak Republic
| | - Kirill A Afonin
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA; The Center for Biomedical Engineering and Science, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA.
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26
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Kiyooka R, Akagi J, Hidaka K, Sugiyama H, Endo M, Matsumura S, Ikawa Y. Catalytic RNA nano-objects formed by self-assembly of group I ribozyme dimers serving as unit structures. J Biosci Bioeng 2020; 130:253-259. [PMID: 32451246 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2020.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Ribozymes with modular structures are attractive platforms for the construction of nanoscale RNA objects with biological functions. We designed group I ribozyme dimers as unit ribozyme dimers (Urds), which self-assembled to form their polymeric states and also oligomeric states with defined numbers of Urds. Assembly of Urds yielded catalytic ability of a pair of distinct ribozyme units to cleave two distinct substrates. The morphologies of the assembled ribozyme structures were observed directly by atomic force microscopy (AFM).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryuji Kiyooka
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Gofuku 3190, Toyama 930-8555, Japan
| | - Junya Akagi
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Gofuku 3190, Toyama 930-8555, Japan
| | - Kumi Hidaka
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Sugiyama
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan; Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Masayuki Endo
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan; Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Shigeyoshi Matsumura
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Gofuku 3190, Toyama 930-8555, Japan
| | - Yoshiya Ikawa
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Gofuku 3190, Toyama 930-8555, Japan.
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27
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Grau FC, Jaeger J, Groher F, Suess B, Muller YA. The complex formed between a synthetic RNA aptamer and the transcription repressor TetR is a structural and functional twin of the operator DNA-TetR regulator complex. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:3366-3378. [PMID: 32052019 PMCID: PMC7102968 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
RNAs play major roles in the regulation of gene expression. Hence, designer RNA molecules are increasingly explored as regulatory switches in synthetic biology. Among these, the TetR-binding RNA aptamer was selected by its ability to compete with operator DNA for binding to the bacterial repressor TetR. A fortuitous finding was that induction of TetR by tetracycline abolishes both RNA aptamer and operator DNA binding in TetR. This enabled numerous applications exploiting both the specificity of the RNA aptamer and the efficient gene repressor properties of TetR. Here, we present the crystal structure of the TetR-RNA aptamer complex at 2.7 Å resolution together with a comprehensive characterization of the TetR–RNA aptamer versus TetR–operator DNA interaction using site-directed mutagenesis, size exclusion chromatography, electrophoretic mobility shift assays and isothermal titration calorimetry. The fold of the RNA aptamer bears no resemblance to regular B-DNA, and neither does the thermodynamic characterization of the complex formation reaction. Nevertheless, the functional aptamer-binding epitope of TetR is fully contained within its DNA-binding epitope. In the RNA aptamer complex, TetR adopts the well-characterized DNA-binding-competent conformation of TetR, thus revealing how the synthetic TetR-binding aptamer strikes the chords of the bimodal allosteric behaviour of TetR to function as a synthetic regulator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian C Grau
- Lehrstuhl für Biotechnik, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Henkestr. 91, D-91052 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jeannine Jaeger
- Department of Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstrasse 10, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Florian Groher
- Department of Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstrasse 10, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Beatrix Suess
- Department of Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstrasse 10, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany.,Centre for Synthetic Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt
| | - Yves A Muller
- Lehrstuhl für Biotechnik, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Henkestr. 91, D-91052 Erlangen, Germany
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28
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McCluskey JB, Clark DS, Glover DJ. Functional Applications of Nucleic Acid-Protein Hybrid Nanostructures. Trends Biotechnol 2020; 38:976-989. [PMID: 32818445 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Combining the diverse chemical functionality of proteins with the predictable structural assembly of nucleic acids has enabled the creation of hybrid nanostructures for a range of biotechnology applications. Through the attachment of proteins onto or within nucleic acid nanostructures, materials with dynamic capabilities can be created that include switchable enzyme activity, targeted drug delivery, and multienzyme cascades for biocatalysis. Investigations of difficult-to-study biological mechanisms have also been aided by using DNA-protein assemblies that mimic natural processes in a controllable manner. Furthermore, advances that enable the recombinant production and intracellular assembly of hybrid nanostructures have the potential to overcome the significant manufacturing cost that has limited the use of DNA and RNA nanotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua B McCluskey
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Douglas S Clark
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Dominic J Glover
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
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Duan J, Wang X, Kizer ME. Biotechnological and Therapeutic Applications of Natural Nucleic Acid Structural Motifs. Top Curr Chem (Cham) 2020; 378:26. [PMID: 32067108 DOI: 10.1007/s41061-020-0290-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Genetic information and the blueprint of life are stored in the form of nucleic acids. The primary sequence of DNA, read from the canonical double helix, provides the code for RNA and protein synthesis. Yet these already-information-rich molecules have higher-order structures which play critical roles in transcription and translation. Uncovering the sequences, parameters, and conditions which govern the formation of these structural motifs has allowed researchers to study them and to utilize them in biotechnological and therapeutic applications in vitro and in vivo. This review covers both DNA and RNA structural motifs found naturally in biological systems including catalytic nucleic acids, non-coding RNA, aptamers, G-quadruplexes, i-motifs, and Holliday junctions. For each category, an overview of the structural characteristics, biological prevalence, and function will be discussed. The biotechnological and therapeutic applications of these structural motifs are highlighted. Future perspectives focus on the addition of proteins and unnatural modifications to enhance structural stability for greater applicability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinwei Duan
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, College of Sciences, Chang'an University, Xi'an, 710064, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
| | - Xing Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
| | - Megan E Kizer
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
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Chen S, Hermann T. RNA-DNA hybrid nanoshapes that self-assemble dependent on ligand binding. NANOSCALE 2020; 12:3302-3307. [PMID: 31971536 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr09706f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembly of nucleic acid nanostructures is driven by selective association of oligonucleotide modules through base pairing between complementary sequences. Herein, we report the development of RNA-DNA hybrid nanoshapes that conditionally assemble under the control of an adenosine ligand. The design concept for the nanoshapes relies on ligand-dependent stabilization of DNA aptamers that serve as connectors between marginally stable RNA corner modules. Ligand-dependent RNA-DNA nanoshapes self-assemble in an all-or-nothing process by coupling adenosine binding to the formation of circularly closed structures which are stabilized through continuous base stacking in the resulting polygons. By screening combinations of various DNA aptamer constructs with RNA corner modules for the formation of stable complexes, we identified adenosine-dependent nanosquares whose shape was confirmed by atomic force microscopy. As a proof-of-concept for sensor applications, adenosine-responsive FRET-active nanosquares were obtained by dye conjugation of the DNA aptamer components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi Chen
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Thomas Hermann
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California, 92093, USA. and Center for Drug Discovery Innovation, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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