1
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Li X, Groaz E, Herdewijn P, Lescrinier E. Impact of Single Acyclic Phosphonate Nucleotide (ZNA) Modifications on DNA Duplex Stability. Chemistry 2024; 30:e202401254. [PMID: 38687344 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202401254] [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: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
An acyclic phosphonate-linked nucleic acid backbone (ZNA) demonstrated the capability to support duplex formation and propagate genetic information in vivo, unveiling its potential for evolution into a synthetic genetic system (XNA). To determine the structural impact of such modification, modified Dickerson Drew DNA dodecamers (DDDs) were prepared by solid phase synthesis, each containing either an (R) or (S) isomeric form of a cytosine ZNA nucleotide. While the DDD is known to adopt a stable duplex, both duplex and hairpin forms were simultaneously observed for both modified oligonucleotides by NMR spectroscopy over a broad temperature range (5-65 °C). Diffusion-ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) experiments allowed to separate duplex and hairpin signals based on the different diffusion constants of both conformational states. For the oligomer containing (R)-ZNA, only the duplex form occurred at 5 °C, while it was not possible to determine by NMR a single hairpin conformation at higher temperatures. In the case of the (S)-ZNA nucleoside modified oligomer, both hairpin and duplex forms were observable at 0 °C, while a single hairpin conformation was detected at 37 °C, suggesting a higher destabilizing effect on dsDNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinlu Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Herestraat 49, Box 1030, Leuven, B-3000, Belgium
| | - Elisabetta Groaz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Herestraat 49, Box 1030, Leuven, B-3000, Belgium
| | - Piet Herdewijn
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Herestraat 49, Box 1030, Leuven, B-3000, Belgium
| | - Eveline Lescrinier
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Herestraat 49, Box 1030, Leuven, B-3000, Belgium
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2
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Hoffmann SA, Diggans J, Densmore D, Dai J, Knight T, Leproust E, Boeke JD, Wheeler N, Cai Y. Safety by design: Biosafety and biosecurity in the age of synthetic genomics. iScience 2023; 26:106165. [PMID: 36895643 PMCID: PMC9988571 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Technologies to profoundly engineer biology are becoming increasingly affordable, powerful, and accessible to a widening group of actors. While offering tremendous potential to fuel biological research and the bioeconomy, this development also increases the risk of inadvertent or deliberate creation and dissemination of pathogens. Effective regulatory and technological frameworks need to be developed and deployed to manage these emerging biosafety and biosecurity risks. Here, we review digital and biological approaches of a range of technology readiness levels suited to address these challenges. Digital sequence screening technologies already are used to control access to synthetic DNA of concern. We examine the current state of the art of sequence screening, challenges and future directions, and environmental surveillance for the presence of engineered organisms. As biosafety layer on the organism level, we discuss genetic biocontainment systems that can be used to created host organisms with an intrinsic barrier against unchecked environmental proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan A Hoffmann
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
| | - James Diggans
- Twist Bioscience, 681 Gateway Boulevard, South San Francisco, CA 9408, USA
| | - Douglas Densmore
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Boston University, 610 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Junbiao Dai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tom Knight
- Ginkgo Bioworks, 27 Drydock Avenue, Boston, MA 02210, USA
| | - Emily Leproust
- Twist Bioscience, 681 Gateway Boulevard, South San Francisco, CA 9408, USA
| | - Jef D Boeke
- Institute for Systems Genetics, and Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, NYU Langone Health, 435 East 30th Street, New York, NY 10016, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA
| | - Nicole Wheeler
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Yizhi Cai
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
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3
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Sun L, Ma X, Zhang B, Qin Y, Ma J, Du Y, Chen T. From polymerase engineering to semi-synthetic life: artificial expansion of the central dogma. RSC Chem Biol 2022; 3:1173-1197. [PMID: 36320892 PMCID: PMC9533422 DOI: 10.1039/d2cb00116k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acids have been extensively modified in different moieties to expand the scope of genetic materials in the past few decades. While the development of unnatural base pairs (UBPs) has expanded the genetic information capacity of nucleic acids, the production of synthetic alternatives of DNA and RNA has increased the types of genetic information carriers and introduced novel properties and functionalities into nucleic acids. Moreover, the efforts of tailoring DNA polymerases (DNAPs) and RNA polymerases (RNAPs) to be efficient unnatural nucleic acid polymerases have enabled broad application of these unnatural nucleic acids, ranging from production of stable aptamers to evolution of novel catalysts. The introduction of unnatural nucleic acids into living organisms has also started expanding the central dogma in vivo. In this article, we first summarize the development of unnatural nucleic acids with modifications or alterations in different moieties. The strategies for engineering DNAPs and RNAPs are then extensively reviewed, followed by summarization of predominant polymerase mutants with good activities for synthesizing, reverse transcribing, or even amplifying unnatural nucleic acids. Some recent application examples of unnatural nucleic acids with their polymerases are then introduced. At the end, the approaches of introducing UBPs and synthetic genetic polymers into living organisms for the creation of semi-synthetic organisms are reviewed and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leping Sun
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology 510006 Guangzhou China
| | - Xingyun Ma
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology 510006 Guangzhou China
| | - Binliang Zhang
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology 510006 Guangzhou China
| | - Yanjia Qin
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology 510006 Guangzhou China
| | - Jiezhao Ma
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology 510006 Guangzhou China
| | - Yuhui Du
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology 510006 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 510006 Guangzhou China
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4
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Flamme M, Hanlon S, Marzuoli I, Püntener K, Sladojevich F, Hollenstein M. Evaluation of 3'-phosphate as a transient protecting group for controlled enzymatic synthesis of DNA and XNA oligonucleotides. Commun Chem 2022; 5:68. [PMID: 36697944 PMCID: PMC9814670 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-022-00685-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemically modified oligonucleotides have advanced as important therapeutic tools as reflected by the recent advent of mRNA vaccines and the FDA-approval of various siRNA and antisense oligonucleotides. These sequences are typically accessed by solid-phase synthesis which despite numerous advantages is restricted to short sequences and displays a limited tolerance to functional groups. Controlled enzymatic synthesis is an emerging alternative synthetic methodology that circumvents the limitations of traditional solid-phase synthesis. So far, most approaches strived to improve controlled enzymatic synthesis of canonical DNA and no potential routes to access xenonucleic acids (XNAs) have been reported. In this context, we have investigated the possibility of using phosphate as a transient protecting group for controlled enzymatic synthesis of DNA and locked nucleic acid (LNA) oligonucleotides. Phosphate is ubiquitously employed in natural systems and we demonstrate that this group displays most characteristics required for controlled enzymatic synthesis. We have devised robust synthetic pathways leading to these challenging compounds and we have discovered a hitherto unknown phosphatase activity of various DNA polymerases. These findings open up directions for the design of protected DNA and XNA nucleoside triphosphates for controlled enzymatic synthesis of chemically modified nucleic acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Flamme
- grid.508487.60000 0004 7885 7602Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3523, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Laboratory for Bioorganic Chemistry of Nucleic Acids, 28, rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, Paris, France
| | - Steven Hanlon
- grid.417570.00000 0004 0374 1269Pharmaceutical Devision, Synthetic Molecules Technical Development, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Irene Marzuoli
- grid.417570.00000 0004 0374 1269Pharmaceutical Devision, Synthetic Molecules Technical Development, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kurt Püntener
- grid.417570.00000 0004 0374 1269Pharmaceutical Devision, Synthetic Molecules Technical Development, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Filippo Sladojevich
- grid.417570.00000 0004 0374 1269Pharma Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marcel Hollenstein
- grid.508487.60000 0004 7885 7602Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris Cité, CNRS UMR3523, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Laboratory for Bioorganic Chemistry of Nucleic Acids, 28, rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, Paris, France
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5
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Murayama K, Kashida H, Asanuma H. Methyl group configuration on acyclic threoninol nucleic acids ( aTNAs) impacts supramolecular properties. Org Biomol Chem 2022; 20:4115-4122. [PMID: 35274662 DOI: 10.1039/d2ob00266c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We have synthesized acyclic allo-threoninol nucleic acids (allo-aTNAs), artificial xeno-nucleic acids (XNAs) that are diastereomers of acyclic threoninol nucleic acids (aTNAs), and have investigated their supramolecular properties. The allo-aTNAs formed homo-duplexes in an antiparallel manner but with lower thermal stability than DNA, whereas aTNAs formed extremely stable homo-duplexes. The allo-aTNAs formed duplexes with complementary aTNAs and serinol nucleic acid (SNA). The affinities of L-allo-aTNA were the highest for L-aTNA and the lowest for D-aTNA, with SNA being intermediate. The affinities of D-allo-aTNA were the reverse. Circular dichroism measurements revealed that L- and D-allo-aTNAs had weak right-handed and left-handed helicities, respectively. The weak helicity of allo-aTNAs likely explains the poor chiral discrimination of these XNAs, which is in contrast to aTNAs that have strong helical orthogonality. Energy-minimized structures of L-allo-aTNA/RNA and L-allo-aTNA/L-allo-aTNA indicated that the methyl group on the allo-aTNA strand is unfavourable for duplex formation. In contrast, the methyl group on L-aTNA likely stabilizes the duplex structure via hydrophobic effects and van der Waals interactions. Thus, the configuration of the methyl group on the XNA scaffold had an unexpectedly large impact on the hybridization ability and structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiji Murayama
- Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan.
| | - Hiromu Kashida
- Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan.
| | - Hiroyuki Asanuma
- Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan.
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6
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Saito-Tarashima N, Murai A, Minakawa N. Rewriting the Central Dogma with Synthetic Genetic Polymers. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2022; 70:310-315. [DOI: 10.1248/cpb.c21-00960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Akiho Murai
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Tokushima University
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7
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Chan KY, Kinghorn AB, Hollenstein M, Tanner JA. Chemical modifications for a next generation of nucleic acid aptamers. Chembiochem 2022; 23:e202200006. [PMID: 35416400 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
In the past three decades, in vitro systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) has yielded many aptamers for translational applications in both research and clinical settings. Despite their promise as an alternative to antibodies, the low success rate of SELEX (~ 30%) has been a major bottleneck that hampers the further development of aptamers. One hurdle is the lack of chemical diversity in nucleic acids. To address this, the aptamer chemical repertoire has been extended by introducing exotic chemical groups, which provide novel binding functionalities. This review will focus on how modified aptamers can be selected and evolved, with illustration of some successful examples. In particular, unique chemistries are exemplified. Various strategies of incorporating modified building blocks into the standard SELEX protocol are highlighted, with a comparison of the differences between pre-SELEX and post-SELEX modifications. Nucleic acid aptamers with extended functionality evolved from non-natural chemistries will open up new vistas for function and application of nucleic acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwing Yeung Chan
- The University of Hong Kong, School of Biomedical Sciences, HONG KONG
| | | | | | - Julian Alexander Tanner
- The University of Hong Kong, School of Biomedical Sciences, 3/F Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road, 000000, Pokfulam, HONG KONG
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8
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Nguyen H, Abramov M, Rozenski J, Eremeeva E, Herdewijn P. In vivo assembly and expression of DNA containing non-canonical bases in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Chembiochem 2022; 23:e202200060. [PMID: 35322918 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Chemically modified nucleic acids are of utmost interest in synthetic biology to create a regulable and sophisticated synthetic system with tailor-made properties. Implanting chemically modified nucleic acids in microorganisms might serve biotechnological applications, while using them in human cells might lead to new advanced medicines. Previously, we reported that a fully modified DNA sequence (called DZA) composed of the four base-modified nucleotides - 7-deaza-adenine, 5-chlorouracil, 7-deaza-guanine and 5-fluorocytosine - could function as a genetic template in prokaryotic cells, Escherichia coli . Here, we report the synthesis of long, partially or fully modified DZA fragments that encode the yeast-enhanced red fluorescence protein (yEmRFP). The DZA sequences were directly introduced in the genome of the eukaryotic cells, Saccharomyces cerevisiae , via the yeast natural homologous recombination. The simple and straightforward DZA cloning strategy reported herein might be of interest to scientists working in the field of xenobiology in yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoai Nguyen
- KU Leuven Rega Institute for Medical Research.: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Rega Institute for Medical Research, Medicinal Chemistry, BELGIUM
| | - Mikhail Abramov
- KU Leuven Rega Institute for Medical Research: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Rega Institute for Medical Research, Medicinal Chemistry, BELGIUM
| | - Jef Rozenski
- KU Leuven Rega Institute for Medical Research.: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Rega Institute for Medical Research, Medicinal Chemistry, BELGIUM
| | - Elena Eremeeva
- KU Leuven Rega Institute for Medical Research.: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Rega Institute for Medical Research, Medicinal Chemistry, BELGIUM
| | - Piet Herdewijn
- Rega Institute for Medical Research, Medicinal Chemistry, Herestraat 49 - box 1030, 3000, Leuven, BELGIUM
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9
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Jana SK, Harikrishna S, Sudhakar S, El-Khoury R, Pradeepkumar PI, Damha MJ. Nucleoside Analogues with a Seven-Membered Sugar Ring: Synthesis and Structural Compatibility in DNA-RNA Hybrids. J Org Chem 2022; 87:2367-2379. [PMID: 35133166 DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.1c02254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Herein we describe results on the pairing properties of synthetic DNA and RNA oligonucleotides that contain nucleotide analogues with a 7-membered sugar ring (oxepane nucleotides). Specifically, we describe the stereoselective synthesis of a set of three oxepane thymine nucleosides (OxT), their conversion to phosphoramidite derivatives, and their use in solid-phase synthesis to yield chimeric OxT-DNA and OxT-RNA strands. The different regioisomeric OxT phosphoramidites allowed for positional variations of the phosphate bridge and assessment of duplex stability when the oxepane nucleotides were incorporated in dsDNA, dsRNA, and DNA-RNA hybrids. Little to no destabilization was observed when two of the three regioisomeric OxT units were incorporated in the DNA strand of DNA-RNA hybrids, a remarkable result considering the dramatically different structure of oxepanes in comparison to 2'-deoxynucleosides. Extensive molecular modeling and dynamics studies further revealed the various structural features responsible for the tolerance of both OxT modifications in DNA-RNA duplexes, such as base-base stacking and sugar-phosphate H-bond interactions. These studies suggest that oxepane nucleotide analogues may find applications in synthetic biology, where synthetic oligonucleotides can be used to create new tools for biotechnology and medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunit Kumar Jana
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St. West, Montreal, QC H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - S Harikrishna
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India
| | - Sruthi Sudhakar
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India
| | - Roberto El-Khoury
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St. West, Montreal, QC H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - P I Pradeepkumar
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India
| | - Masad J Damha
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St. West, Montreal, QC H3A 0B8, Canada
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10
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Figazzolo C, Ma Y, Tucker JHR, Hollenstein M. Ferrocene as a potential electrochemical reporting surrogate of abasic sites in DNA. Org Biomol Chem 2022; 20:8125-8135. [DOI: 10.1039/d2ob01540d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
We have evaluated the possibility of replacing abasic sites with ferrocene for enzymatic synthesis of canonical and modified DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Figazzolo
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Laboratory for Bioorganic Chemistry of Nucleic Acids, CNRS UMR3523, 28, rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France
- Learning Planet Institute, 8, rue Charles V, 75004 Paris, France
| | - Yifeng Ma
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | | | - Marcel Hollenstein
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry, Laboratory for Bioorganic Chemistry of Nucleic Acids, CNRS UMR3523, 28, rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France
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11
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Asanuma H, Kamiya Y, Kashida H, Murayama K. Xeno nucleic acids (XNAs) having non-ribose scaffolds with unique supramolecular properties. Chem Commun (Camb) 2022; 58:3993-4004. [DOI: 10.1039/d1cc05868a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
DNA and RNA have significance as a genetic materials, therapeutic potential, and supramolecular properties. Advances in nucleic acid chemistry have enabled large-scale synthesis of DNA and RNA oligonucleotides and oligomers...
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12
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Freund N, Fürst MJLJ, Holliger P. New chemistries and enzymes for synthetic genetics. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2021; 74:129-136. [PMID: 34883451 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2021.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Beyond the natural nucleic acids DNA and RNA, nucleic acid chemistry has unlocked a whole universe of modifications to their canonical chemical structure, which can in various ways modify and enhance nucleic acid function and utility for applications in biotechnology and medicine. Unlike the natural modifications of tRNA and rRNA or the epigenetic modifications in mRNA and genomic DNA, these altered chemistries are not found in nature and therefore these molecules are referred to as xeno-nucleic acids (XNAs). In this review we aim to focus specifically on recent progress in a subsection of this vast field-synthetic genetics-concerned with encoded synthesis, reverse transcription, and evolution of XNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklas Freund
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | | | - Philipp Holliger
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK.
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13
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Murayama K, Asanuma H. Design and Hybridization Properties of Acyclic Xeno Nucleic Acid Oligomers. Chembiochem 2021; 22:2507-2515. [PMID: 33998765 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202100184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Xeno nucleic acids (XNAs) are analogues of DNA and RNA that have a non-ribose artificial scaffold. XNAs are possible prebiotic genetic carriers as well as alternative genetic systems in artificial life. In addition, XNA oligomers can be used as biological tools. Acyclic XNAs, which do not have cyclic scaffolds, are attractive due to facile their synthesis and remarkably high nuclease resistance. To maximize the performance of XNAs, a negatively charged backbone is preferable to provide sufficient water solubility; however, acyclic XNAs containing polyanionic backbones suffer from high entropy cost upon duplex formation, because of the high flexibility of the acyclic nature. Herein, we review the relationships between the structure and duplex hybridization properties of various acyclic XNA oligomers with polyanion backbones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiji Murayama
- Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Asanuma
- Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan
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14
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Pezo V, Jaziri F, Bourguignon PY, Louis D, Jacobs-Sera D, Rozenski J, Pochet S, Herdewijn P, Hatfull GF, Kaminski PA, Marliere P. Noncanonical DNA polymerization by aminoadenine-based siphoviruses. Science 2021; 372:520-524. [PMID: 33926956 DOI: 10.1126/science.abe6542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriophage genomes harbor the broadest chemical diversity of nucleobases across all life forms. Certain DNA viruses that infect hosts as diverse as cyanobacteria, proteobacteria, and actinobacteria exhibit wholesale substitution of aminoadenine for adenine, thereby forming three hydrogen bonds with thymine and violating Watson-Crick pairing rules. Aminoadenine-encoded DNA polymerases, homologous to the Klenow fragment of bacterial DNA polymerase I that includes 3'-exonuclease but lacks 5'-exonuclease, were found to preferentially select for aminoadenine instead of adenine in deoxynucleoside triphosphate incorporation templated by thymine. Polymerase genes occur in synteny with genes for a biosynthesis enzyme that produces aminoadenine deoxynucleotides in a wide array of Siphoviridae bacteriophages. Congruent phylogenetic clustering of the polymerases and biosynthesis enzymes suggests that aminoadenine has propagated in DNA alongside adenine since archaic stages of evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie Pezo
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 2 Rue Gaston Crémieux, 91057 Evry, France
| | - Faten Jaziri
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 2 Rue Gaston Crémieux, 91057 Evry, France
| | - Pierre-Yves Bourguignon
- Werkstatt fuer Potenzielle Genetik, Naunynstrasse 30, 10997 Berlin, Germany.,TESSSI, 81 Rue Réaumur, 75002 Paris, France
| | | | - Deborah Jacobs-Sera
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 4249 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260 USA
| | - Jef Rozenski
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Biomedical Research, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Box 1041, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sylvie Pochet
- Organic Chemistry, CNRS UMR3523, Department of Chemistry and Biocatalysis, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 Rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Piet Herdewijn
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Biomedical Research, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Box 1041, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Graham F Hatfull
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 4249 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260 USA
| | - Pierre-Alexandre Kaminski
- Biology of Gram-Positive Pathogens, CNRS URL3526, Department of Microbiology, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 Rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Philippe Marliere
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 2 Rue Gaston Crémieux, 91057 Evry, France. .,TESSSI, 81 Rue Réaumur, 75002 Paris, France
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15
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Zhang Y, Ding W, Wang Z, Zhao H, Shi S. Development of Host-Orthogonal Genetic Systems for Synthetic Biology. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2021; 5:e2000252. [PMID: 33729696 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202000252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The construction of a host-orthogonal genetic system can not only minimize the impact of host-specific nuances on fine-tuning of gene expression, but also expand cellular functions such as in vivo continuous evolution of genes based on an error-prone DNA polymerase. It represents an emerging powerful approach for making biology easier to engineer. In this review, the recent advances are described on the design of genetic systems that can be stably inherited in the host cells and are responsible for important biological processes including DNA replication, RNA transcription, protein translation, and gene regulation. Their applications in synthetic biology are summarized and the future challenges and opportunities are discussed in developing such systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, P. R. China
| | - Wentao Ding
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety (Tianjin University of Science and Technology) Ministry of Education, College of Food Engineering and Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, No. 29, 13th Avenue, TEDA, Tianjin, 300457, P. R. China
| | - Zhihui Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, P. R. China
| | - Huimin Zhao
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Shuobo Shi
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, P. R. China
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Yang H, Eremeeva E, Abramov M, Herdewijn P. The Network of Replication, Transcription, and Reverse Transcription of a Synthetic Genetic Cassette. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202011887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Yang
- Medicinal Chemistry Rega Institute for Medical Research KU Leuven Herestraat 49, Box-1041 3000 Leuven Belgium
| | - Elena Eremeeva
- Medicinal Chemistry Rega Institute for Medical Research KU Leuven Herestraat 49, Box-1041 3000 Leuven Belgium
| | - Mikhail Abramov
- Medicinal Chemistry Rega Institute for Medical Research KU Leuven Herestraat 49, Box-1041 3000 Leuven Belgium
| | - Piet Herdewijn
- Medicinal Chemistry Rega Institute for Medical Research KU Leuven Herestraat 49, Box-1041 3000 Leuven Belgium
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17
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Murayama K, Okita H, Kuriki T, Asanuma H. Nonenzymatic polymerase-like template-directed synthesis of acyclic L-threoninol nucleic acid. Nat Commun 2021; 12:804. [PMID: 33547322 PMCID: PMC7864931 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21128-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Evolution of xeno nucleic acid (XNA) world essentially requires template-directed synthesis of XNA polymers. In this study, we demonstrate template-directed synthesis of an acyclic XNA, acyclic L-threoninol nucleic acid (L-aTNA), via chemical ligation mediated by N-cyanoimidazole. The ligation of an L-aTNA fragment on an L-aTNA template is significantly faster and occurs in considerably higher yield than DNA ligation. Both L-aTNA ligation on a DNA template and DNA ligation on an L-aTNA template are also observed. High efficiency ligation of trimer L-aTNA fragments to a template-bound primer is achieved. Furthermore, a pseudo primer extension reaction is demonstrated using a pool of random L-aTNA trimers as substrates. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of polymerase-like primer extension of XNA with all four nucleobases, generating phosphodiester bonding without any special modification. This technique paves the way for a genetic system of the L-aTNA world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiji Murayama
- Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan.
| | - Hikari Okita
- Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan
| | - Takumi Kuriki
- Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Asanuma
- Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan.
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18
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Nguyen H, Abramov M, Eremeeva E, Herdewijn P. In Vivo Expression of Genetic Information from Phosphoramidate-DNA. Chembiochem 2021; 21:272-278. [PMID: 31868979 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201900712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Chemically modified genes and genomes with customized properties will become a valuable tool in numerous fields, including synthetic biology, biotechnology, and medicine. These genetic materials are meant to store and exchange information with DNA and RNA while tuning their functionality. Herein, we outline the development of an alternative genetic system carrying phosphoramidate linkages that successfully propagates genetic information in bacteria and at the same time is labile to acidic conditions. The P3'→N5' phosphoramidate-containing DNA (PN-DNA) was enzymatically synthesized by using 5'-amino-2',5'-deoxycytidine 5'-N-triphosphates (NH-dCTPs) as substrates for DNA polymerases and employed to encode antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli. The resulting PN-DNA can be efficiently destroyed by mild acidic conditions, whereas an unmodified counterpart remains intact. A cloning strategy was proposed for assembling modified fragments into a genome. This method can be of interest to scientists working in the field of orthogonal nucleic acid genes and genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoai Nguyen
- KU Leuven, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Medicinal Chemistry, Herestraat 49, Box 1041, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mikhail Abramov
- KU Leuven, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Medicinal Chemistry, Herestraat 49, Box 1041, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elena Eremeeva
- KU Leuven, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Medicinal Chemistry, Herestraat 49, Box 1041, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Piet Herdewijn
- KU Leuven, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Medicinal Chemistry, Herestraat 49, Box 1041, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
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19
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McKenzie LK, El-Khoury R, Thorpe JD, Damha MJ, Hollenstein M. Recent progress in non-native nucleic acid modifications. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:5126-5164. [DOI: 10.1039/d0cs01430c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
While Nature harnesses RNA and DNA to store, read and write genetic information, the inherent programmability, synthetic accessibility and wide functionality of these nucleic acids make them attractive tools for use in a vast array of applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke K. McKenzie
- Institut Pasteur
- Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry
- Laboratory for Bioorganic Chemistry of Nucleic Acids
- CNRS UMR3523
- 75724 Paris Cedex 15
| | | | | | | | - Marcel Hollenstein
- Institut Pasteur
- Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry
- Laboratory for Bioorganic Chemistry of Nucleic Acids
- CNRS UMR3523
- 75724 Paris Cedex 15
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20
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Yang H, Eremeeva E, Abramov M, Herdewijn P. The Network of Replication, Transcription, and Reverse Transcription of a Synthetic Genetic Cassette. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 60:4175-4182. [PMID: 33142013 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202011887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic nucleic acids, with four non-canonical nucleobases, can function as genetic materials. A comprehensive analysis of PCR amplification, transcription, reverse transcription, and cloning was done to screen for alternative genetic monomers. A small library of six modified nucleobases was selected: the modified 2'-deoxyribonucleoside (dZTPs) and ribonucleoside (rZTPs) triphosphates of 7-deaza-adenine, 5-chlorouracil, 7-deaza-guanine or inosine together with 5-fluorocytosine or 5-bromocytosine. The fragments composed of one to four modified nucleotides (denoted as DZA) have been successfully recognized and transcribed to natural or modified RNA (denoted as RZA) by T7 RNA polymerase. The fully modified RZA fragment could be reverse transcribed and then amplified in the presence of various dZTPs. Noticeably, modified fragments could function as genetic templates in vivo by encoding the 678 base pair gene of a fluorescent protein in bacteria. These results demonstrate the existence of a fully simulated genetic circuit that uses synthetic materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Yang
- Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Box-1041, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elena Eremeeva
- Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Box-1041, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mikhail Abramov
- Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Box-1041, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Piet Herdewijn
- Medicinal Chemistry, Rega Institute for Medical Research, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Box-1041, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
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21
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Intrastrand backbone-nucleobase interactions stabilize unwound right-handed helical structures of heteroduplexes of L-aTNA/RNA and SNA/RNA. Commun Chem 2020; 3:156. [PMID: 36703369 PMCID: PMC9814321 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-020-00400-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Xeno nucleic acids, which are synthetic analogues of natural nucleic acids, have potential for use in nucleic acid drugs and as orthogonal genetic biopolymers and prebiotic precursors. Although few acyclic nucleic acids can stably bind to RNA and DNA, serinol nucleic acid (SNA) and L-threoninol nucleic acid (L-aTNA) stably bind to them. Here we disclose crystal structures of RNA hybridizing with SNA and with L-aTNA. The heteroduplexes show unwound right-handed helical structures. Unlike canonical A-type duplexes, the base pairs in the heteroduplexes align perpendicularly to the helical axes, and consequently helical pitches are large. The unwound helical structures originate from interactions between nucleobases and neighbouring backbones of L-aTNA and SNA through CH-O bonds. In addition, SNA and L-aTNA form a triplex structure via C:G*G parallel Hoogsteen interactions with RNA. The unique structural features of the RNA-recognizing mode of L-aTNA and SNA should prove useful in nanotechnology, biotechnology, and basic research into prebiotic chemistry.
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22
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Tarashima NS, Matsuo A, Minakawa N. Gene Expression of 4'-Thioguanine DNA via 4'-Thiocytosine RNA. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:17255-17259. [PMID: 33016701 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c07145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
DNA and RNA nucleotides are ubiquitous molecules that store and transmit genetic information. The emergence of synthetic elements that fulfill the function of DNA and RNA provides an alternative gene expression system. Herein, we demonstrate the gene expression of 4'-thioguanine DNA (dSG DNA) via 4'-thiocytosine RNA (dSC RNA) to give green fluorescent protein (GFPuv) in a single test tube. In replication, transcription, and translation, DNA/RNA polymerases and Escherichia coli (E. coli) ribosome can tolerate the replacement of O4' with S4' in the nucleotide, despite the fact that sulfur has a larger atomic radius than oxygen. Additionally, dSG DNA and dSC RNA acted as alternative genetic polymers to natural DNA and RNA for protein synthesis in artificial cells comprising a reconstituted E. coli gene expression machinery. This work involved simple experiments that are widely used in molecular biology, but which underscore the feasibility of life control by substances other than DNA/RNA nucleotides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriko S Tarashima
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Tokushima University, Shomachi 1-78-1, Tokushima, 770-8505, Japan
| | - Ayako Matsuo
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Tokushima University, Shomachi 1-78-1, Tokushima, 770-8505, Japan
| | - Noriaki Minakawa
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Tokushima University, Shomachi 1-78-1, Tokushima, 770-8505, Japan
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Nie P, Bai Y, Mei H. Synthetic Life with Alternative Nucleic Acids as Genetic Materials. Molecules 2020; 25:E3483. [PMID: 32751873 PMCID: PMC7435384 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25153483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA, the fundamental genetic polymer of all living organisms on Earth, can be chemically modified to embrace novel functions that do not exist in nature. The key chemical and structural parameters for genetic information storage, heredity, and evolution have been elucidated, and many xenobiotic nucleic acids (XNAs) with non-canonical structures are developed as alternative genetic materials in vitro. However, it is still particularly challenging to replace DNAs with XNAs in living cells. This review outlines some recent studies in which the storage and propagation of genetic information are achieved in vivo by expanding genetic systems with XNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hui Mei
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; (P.N.); (Y.B.)
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24
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Murayama K, Asanuma H. A Quencher-Free Linear Probe from Serinol Nucleic Acid with a Fluorescent Uracil Analogue. Chembiochem 2019; 21:120-128. [PMID: 31549777 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201900498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
With the goal of developing a quencher-free probe composed of an artificial nucleic acid, the fluorescent nucleobase analogue 5-(perylenylethynyl)uracil (Pe U), which was incorporated into totally artificial serinol nucleic acid (SNA) as a substitute for thymine, has been synthesized. In the context of a 12-mer duplex with RNA, these fluorophores reduce duplex stability slightly compared with that of an SNA without Pe U modification; thus suggesting that structural distortion is not induced by the modification. If two Pe Us were incorporated at separate positions in an SNA, the fluorescent emission at λ≈490 nm was clearly enhanced upon hybridization with complementary RNA. A quencher-free SNA linear probe containing three Pe Us, each separated by six nucleobases, has been designed. Detection of target RNA with high sensitivity and discrimination of a single-base mismatch has also been demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiji Murayama
- Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Asanuma
- Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8603, Japan
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