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Deal BR, Ma R, Narum S, Ogasawara H, Duan Y, Kindt JT, Salaita K. Heteromultivalency enables enhanced detection of nucleic acid mutations. Nat Chem 2024; 16:229-238. [PMID: 37884668 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-023-01345-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Detecting genetic mutations such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) is necessary to prescribe effective cancer therapies, perform genetic analyses and distinguish similar viral strains. Traditionally, SNP sensing uses short oligonucleotide probes that differentially bind the SNP and wild-type targets. However, DNA hybridization-based techniques require precise tuning of the probe's binding affinity to manage the inherent trade-off between specificity and sensitivity. As conventional hybridization offers limited control over binding affinity, here we generate heteromultivalent DNA-functionalized particles and demonstrate optimized hybridization specificity for targets containing one or two mutations. By investigating the role of oligo lengths, spacer lengths and binding orientation, we reveal that heteromultivalent hybridization enables fine-tuned specificity for a single SNP and dramatic enhancements in specificity for two non-proximal SNPs empowered by highly cooperative binding. Capitalizing on these abilities, we demonstrate straightforward discrimination between heterozygous cis and trans mutations and between different strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Our findings indicate that heteromultivalent hybridization offers substantial improvements over conventional monovalent hybridization-based methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan R Deal
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Rong Ma
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Steven Narum
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Yuxin Duan
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - James T Kindt
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Khalid Salaita
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Mueller BL, Liberman MJ, Kolpashchikov DM. OWL2: a molecular beacon-based nanostructure for highly selective detection of single-nucleotide variations in folded nucleic acids. NANOSCALE 2023; 15:5735-5742. [PMID: 36880268 DOI: 10.1039/d2nr05590b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Hybridization probes have been used in the detection of specific nucleic acids for the last 50 years. Despite the extensive efforts and the great significance, the challenges of the commonly used probes include (1) low selectivity in detecting single nucleotide variations (SNV) at low (e.g. room or 37 °C) temperatures; (2) low affinity in binding folded nucleic acids, and (3) the cost of fluorescent probes. Here we introduce a multicomponent hybridization probe, called OWL2 sensor, which addresses all three issues. The OWL2 sensor uses two analyte binding arms to tightly bind and unwind folded analytes, and two sequence-specific strands that bind both the analyte and a universal molecular beacon (UMB) probe to form fluorescent 'OWL' structure. The OWL2 sensor was able to differentiate single base mismatches in folded analytes in the temperature range of 5-38 °C. The design is cost-efficient since the same UMB probe can be used for detecting any analyte sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany L Mueller
- Chemistry Department, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816, USA.
| | - Mark J Liberman
- Chemistry Department, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816, USA.
| | - Dmitry M Kolpashchikov
- Chemistry Department, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL 32816, USA.
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
- National Center for Forensic Science, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
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3
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Chandler M, Johnson B, Khisamutdinov E, Dobrovolskaia MA, Sztuba-Solinska J, Salem AK, Breyne K, Chammas R, Walter NG, Contreras LM, Guo P, Afonin KA. The International Society of RNA Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine (ISRNN): The Present and Future of the Burgeoning Field. ACS NANO 2021; 15:16957-16973. [PMID: 34677049 PMCID: PMC9023608 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c10240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The International Society of RNA Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine (ISRNN) hosts an annual meeting series focused on presenting the latest research achievements involving RNA-based therapeutics and strategies, aiming to expand their current biomedical applications while overcoming the remaining challenges of the burgeoning field of RNA nanotechnology. The most recent online meeting hosted a series of engaging talks and discussions from an international cohort of leading nanotechnologists that focused on RNA modifications and modulation, dynamic RNA structures, overcoming delivery limitations using a variety of innovative platforms and approaches, and addressing the newly explored potential for immunomodulation with programmable nucleic acid nanoparticles. In this Nano Focus, we summarize the main discussion points, conclusions, and future directions identified during this two-day webinar as well as more recent advances to highlight and to accelerate this exciting field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Chandler
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223, United States
| | - Brittany Johnson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223, United States
| | - Emil Khisamutdinov
- Department of Chemistry, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana 47304, United States
| | - Marina A Dobrovolskaia
- Nanotechnology Characterization Lab, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
| | - Joanna Sztuba-Solinska
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, 120 W. Samford Avenue, Rouse Life Sciences Building, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
| | - Aliasger K Salem
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
| | - Koen Breyne
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Neurology and Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachussets 02114, United States
| | - Roger Chammas
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223, United States
- Centro de Investigação Translacional em Oncologia, Departamento de Radiologia e Oncologia, Instituto do Cancer do Estado de São Paulo - ICESP, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo - FMUSP, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo 251, Cerqueira César, São Paulo 01246-000, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nils G Walter
- Single Molecule Analysis Group, Department of Chemistry and Center for RNA Biomedicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Lydia M Contreras
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering and Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78714, United States
| | - Peixuan Guo
- Center for RNA Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine, College of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Medicine, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Kirill A Afonin
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223, United States
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Johnson MB, Chandler M, Afonin KA. Nucleic acid nanoparticles (NANPs) as molecular tools to direct desirable and avoid undesirable immunological effects. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 173:427-438. [PMID: 33857556 PMCID: PMC8178219 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Nucleic acid nanoparticles (NANPs) represent a highly versatile molecular platform for the targeted delivery of various therapeutics. However, despite their promise, further clinical translation of this innovative technology can be hindered by immunological off-target effects. All human cells are equipped with an arsenal of receptors that recognize molecular patterns specific to foreign nucleic acids and understanding the rules that guide this recognition offer the key rationale for the development of therapeutic NANPs with tunable immune stimulation. Numerous recent studies have provided increasing evidence that in addition to NANPs' physicochemical properties and therapeutic effects, their interactions with cells of the immune system can be regulated through multiple independently programmable architectural parameters. The results further suggest that defined immunomodulation by NANPs can either support their immunoquiescent delivery or be used for conditional stimulation of beneficial immunological responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Brittany Johnson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Morgan Chandler
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Kirill A Afonin
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA.
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Wang X, Tao Z. Expanding the analytical applications of nucleic acid hybridization using junction probes. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2020; 12:4931-4938. [PMID: 33043948 DOI: 10.1039/d0ay01605e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acid hybridization is crucial in target recognition with respect to in vitro and in vivo nucleic acid biosensing. Conventional linear probes and molecular beacons encounter challenges in multiplexing and specific recognition of intractable nucleic acids. Advances in nucleic acid nanotechnologies have resulted in a set of novel structural probes: junction probes (JPs), which make full use of the advantages of specificity, stability, programmability and predictability of Watson-Crick base pairing. In recent years, junction probes have been regularly implemented in constructing systems related to biosensing, synthetic biology and gene regulation. Herein, we summarize the latest advances in JP designs as potential nucleic acid biosensing systems and their expansive applications, and provide some general guidelines for developing JP based sensing strategies for implementation of such systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuchu Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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Abstract
Hybridization probes are RNA or DNA oligonucleotides or their analogs that bind to specific nucleotide sequences in targeted nucleic acids (analytes) via Watson-Crick base pairs to form probe-analyte hybrids. Formation of a stable hybrid would indicate the presence of a DNA or RNA fragment complementary to the known probe sequence. Some of the well-known technologies that rely on nucleic acid hybridization are TaqMan and molecular beacon (MB) probes, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), antisense, siRNA, and CRISPR/cas9, among others. Although invaluable tools for DNA and RNA recognition, hybridization probes suffer from several common disadvantages including low selectivity under physiological conditions, low affinity to folded single-stranded RNA and double-stranded DNA, and high cost of dye-labeled and chemically modified probes. Hybridization probes are evolving into multifunctional molecular devices (dubbed here "multicomponent probes", "DNA machines", and "DNA robots") to satisfy complex and often contradictory requirements of modern biomedical applications. In the definition used here, "multicomponent probes" are DNA probes that use more than one oligonucleotide complementary to an analyzed sequence. A "DNA machine" is an association of a discrete number of DNA strands that undergoes structural rearrangements in response to the presence of a specific analyte. Unlike multicomponent probes, DNA machines unify several functional components in a single association even in the absence of a target. DNA robots are DNA machines equipped with computational (analytic) capabilities. This Account is devoted to an overview of the ongoing evolution of hybridization probes to DNA machines and robots. The Account starts with a brief excursion to historically significant and currently used instantaneous probes. The majority of the text is devoted to the design of (i) multicomponent probes and (ii) DNA machines for nucleic acid recognition and analysis. The fundamental advantage of both designs is their ability to simultaneously address multiple problems of RNA/DNA analysis. This is achieved by modular design, in which several specialized functional components are used simultaneously for recognition of RNA or DNA analytes. The Account is concluded with the analysis of perspectives for further evolution of DNA machines into DNA robots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry M. Kolpashchikov
- Department of Chemistry, University of Central Florida, 4111 Libra Drive, Physical Sciences
255, Orlando, Florida 32816-2366, United States
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Abstract
Advances in nucleic acid sequencing and genotyping technologies have facilitated the discovery of an increasing number of single-nucleotide variations (SNVs) associated with disease onset, progression, and response to therapy. The reliable detection of such disease-specific SNVs can ensure timely and effective therapeutic action, enabling precision medicine. This has driven extensive efforts in recent years to develop novel methods for the fast and cost-effective analysis of targeted SNVs. In this Review, we highlight the most recent and significant advances made toward the development of such methodologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Abi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz 7194684795, Iran
| | - Afsaneh Safavi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz 7194684795, Iran
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