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Wang J, Zhu H, Gan J, Liang G, Li L, Zhao Y. Engineered mRNA Delivery Systems for Biomedical Applications. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2308029. [PMID: 37805865 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202308029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA)-based therapeutic strategies have shown remarkable promise in preventing and treating a staggering range of diseases. Optimizing the structure and delivery system of engineered mRNA has greatly improved its stability, immunogenicity, and protein expression levels, which has led to a wider range of uses for mRNA therapeutics. Herein, a thorough analysis of the optimization strategies used in the structure of mRNA is first provided and delivery systems are described in great detail. Furthermore, the latest advancements in biomedical engineering for mRNA technology, including its applications in combatting infectious diseases, treating cancer, providing protein replacement therapy, conducting gene editing, and more, are summarized. Lastly, a perspective on forthcoming challenges and prospects concerning the advancement of mRNA therapeutics is offered. Despite these challenges, mRNA-based therapeutics remain promising, with the potential to revolutionize disease treatment and contribute to significant advancements in the biomedical field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Haofang Zhu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Jingjing Gan
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
| | - Gaofeng Liang
- Institute of Organoids on Chips Translational Research, Henan Academy of Sciences, Zhengzhou, 450009, China
| | - Ling Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Yuanjin Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China
- Institute of Organoids on Chips Translational Research, Henan Academy of Sciences, Zhengzhou, 450009, China
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Inagaki M, Abe N, Li Z, Nakashima Y, Acharyya S, Ogawa K, Kawaguchi D, Hiraoka H, Banno A, Meng Z, Tada M, Ishida T, Lyu P, Kokubo K, Murase H, Hashiya F, Kimura Y, Uchida S, Abe H. Cap analogs with a hydrophobic photocleavable tag enable facile purification of fully capped mRNA with various cap structures. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2657. [PMID: 37169757 PMCID: PMC10175277 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38244-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Starting with the clinical application of two vaccines in 2020, mRNA therapeutics are currently being investigated for a variety of applications. Removing immunogenic uncapped mRNA from transcribed mRNA is critical in mRNA research and clinical applications. Commonly used capping methods provide maximum capping efficiency of around 80-90% for widely used Cap-0- and Cap-1-type mRNAs. However, uncapped and capped mRNA possesses almost identical physicochemical properties, posing challenges to their physical separation. In this work, we develop hydrophobic photocaged tag-modified cap analogs, which separate capped mRNA from uncapped mRNA by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Subsequent photo-irradiation recovers footprint-free native capped mRNA. This approach provides 100% capping efficiency even in Cap-2-type mRNA with versatility applicable to 650 nt and 4,247 nt mRNA. We find that the Cap-2-type mRNA shows up to 3- to 4-fold higher translation activity in cultured cells and animals than the Cap-1-type mRNA prepared by the standard capping method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahito Inagaki
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Naoko Abe
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Zhenmin Li
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Yuko Nakashima
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
- Research Center for Materials Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Susit Acharyya
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Kazuya Ogawa
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kawaguchi
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Haruka Hiraoka
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Ayaka Banno
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Zheyu Meng
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Mizuki Tada
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Tatsuma Ishida
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Pingxue Lyu
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Kengo Kokubo
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Murase
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Fumitaka Hashiya
- Research Center for Materials Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Yasuaki Kimura
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan
| | - Satoshi Uchida
- Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 1-5 Shimogamohangi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-0823, Japan
- Innovation Center of NanoMedicine (iCONM), Kawasaki Institute of Industrial Promotion, 3-25-14 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, 210-0821, Japan
- Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Abe
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan.
- Research Center for Materials Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8602, Japan.
- CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, 7, Gobancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0076, Japan.
- Institute for Glyco-core Research (iGCORE), Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8601, Japan.
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Kozarski M, Drazkowska K, Bednarczyk M, Warminski M, Jemielity J, Kowalska J. Towards superior mRNA caps accessible by click chemistry: synthesis and translational properties of triazole-bearing oligonucleotide cap analogs. RSC Adv 2023; 13:12809-12824. [PMID: 37114020 PMCID: PMC10126820 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra00026e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA)-based gene delivery is a powerful strategy for the development of vaccines and therapeutics. Consequently, approaches that enable efficient synthesis of mRNAs with high purity and biological activity are in demand. Chemically modified 7-methylguanosine (m7G) 5' caps can augment the translational properties of mRNA; however, efficient synthesis of structurally complex caps, especially on a large scale, is challenging. Previously, we proposed a new strategy to assemble dinucleotide mRNA caps by replacing the traditional pyrophosphate bond formation by copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). Here, we used CuAAC to synthesize 12 novel triazole-containing tri- and tetranucleotide cap analogs with the aim of exploring the chemical space around the first transcribed nucleotide in mRNA and overcoming some of the limitations previously reported for the triazole-containing dinucleotide analogs. We evaluated the efficiency of incorporation into RNA for these analogs and their influence on the translational properties of in vitro transcribed (IVT) mRNAs in rabbit reticulocyte lysate and JAWS II cultured cells. The incorporation of the triazole moiety within the 5',5'-oligophosphate of trinucleotide cap produced compounds that were well incorporated into RNA by T7 polymerase while replacing the 5',3'-phosphodiester bond with triazole impaired incorporation and translation efficiency, despite a neutral effect on the interaction with the translation initiation factor eIF4E. One of the compounds (m7Gppp-tr-C2H4pAmpG), had translational activity and other biochemical properties comparable to natural cap 1 structure, thus being a promising mRNA capping reagent for potential in cellulo and in vivo applications in the field of mRNA-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Kozarski
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw Pasteura 5 02-093 Warsaw Poland
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw Banacha 2c 02-097 Warsaw Poland
| | - Karolina Drazkowska
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw Banacha 2c 02-097 Warsaw Poland
| | - Marcelina Bednarczyk
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw Pasteura 5 02-093 Warsaw Poland
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw Banacha 2c 02-097 Warsaw Poland
| | - Marcin Warminski
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw Pasteura 5 02-093 Warsaw Poland
| | - Jacek Jemielity
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw Banacha 2c 02-097 Warsaw Poland
| | - Joanna Kowalska
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw Pasteura 5 02-093 Warsaw Poland
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Wojcik R, Baranowski MR, Markiewicz L, Kubacka D, Bednarczyk M, Baran N, Wojtczak A, Sikorski PJ, Zuberek J, Kowalska J, Jemielity J. Novel N7-Arylmethyl Substituted Dinucleotide mRNA 5' cap Analogs: Synthesis and Evaluation as Modulators of Translation. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13111941. [PMID: 34834356 PMCID: PMC8623273 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13111941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Dinucleotide analogs of the messenger RNA cap (m7GpppN) are useful research tools and have potential applications as translational inhibitors or reagents for modification of in vitro transcribed mRNAs. It has been previously reported that replacing the methyl group at the N7-position with benzyl (Bn) produces a dinucleotide cap with superior properties. Here, we followed up on this finding by synthesizing 17 novel Bn7GpppG analogs and determining their structure-activity relationship regarding translation and translational inhibition. The compounds were prepared in two steps, including selective N7-alkylation of guanosine 5'-monophosphate by arylmethyl bromide followed by coupling with imidazole-activated GDP, with total yields varying from 22% to 62%. The compounds were then evaluated by determining their affinity for eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E), testing their susceptibility to decapping pyrophosphatase, DcpS-which is most likely the major cellular enzyme targeting this type of compound-and determining their translation inhibitory properties in vitro. We also synthesized mRNAs capped with the evaluated compounds and tested their translational properties in A549 cells. Our studies identified N7-(4-halogenbenzyl) substituents as promising modifications in the contexts of either mRNA translation or translational inhibition. Finally, to gain more insight into the consequences at the molecular level of N7-benzylation of the mRNA cap, we determined the crystal structures of three compounds with eIF4E.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radoslaw Wojcik
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, 02097 Warsaw, Poland; (R.W.); (L.M.); (M.B.); (N.B.); (P.J.S.)
| | - Marek R. Baranowski
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, 02093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.R.B.); (D.K.); (A.W.); (J.Z.)
| | - Lukasz Markiewicz
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, 02097 Warsaw, Poland; (R.W.); (L.M.); (M.B.); (N.B.); (P.J.S.)
| | - Dorota Kubacka
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, 02093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.R.B.); (D.K.); (A.W.); (J.Z.)
| | - Marcelina Bednarczyk
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, 02097 Warsaw, Poland; (R.W.); (L.M.); (M.B.); (N.B.); (P.J.S.)
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, 02093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.R.B.); (D.K.); (A.W.); (J.Z.)
| | - Natalia Baran
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, 02097 Warsaw, Poland; (R.W.); (L.M.); (M.B.); (N.B.); (P.J.S.)
| | - Anna Wojtczak
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, 02093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.R.B.); (D.K.); (A.W.); (J.Z.)
| | - Pawel J. Sikorski
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, 02097 Warsaw, Poland; (R.W.); (L.M.); (M.B.); (N.B.); (P.J.S.)
| | - Joanna Zuberek
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, 02093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.R.B.); (D.K.); (A.W.); (J.Z.)
| | - Joanna Kowalska
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, 02093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.R.B.); (D.K.); (A.W.); (J.Z.)
- Correspondence: (J.K.); (J.J.)
| | - Jacek Jemielity
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, 02097 Warsaw, Poland; (R.W.); (L.M.); (M.B.); (N.B.); (P.J.S.)
- Correspondence: (J.K.); (J.J.)
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Sikorski PJ, Warminski M, Kubacka D, Ratajczak T, Nowis D, Kowalska J, Jemielity J. The identity and methylation status of the first transcribed nucleotide in eukaryotic mRNA 5' cap modulates protein expression in living cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:1607-1626. [PMID: 31984425 PMCID: PMC7038993 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
7-Methylguanosine 5' cap on mRNA is necessary for efficient protein expression in vitro and in vivo. Recent studies revealed structural diversity of endogenous mRNA caps, which carry different 5'-terminal nucleotides and additional methylations (2'-O-methylation and m6A). Currently available 5'-capping methods do not address this diversity. We report trinucleotide 5' cap analogs (m7GpppN(m)pG), which are utilized by RNA polymerase T7 to initiate transcription from templates carrying Φ6.5 promoter and enable production of mRNAs differing in the identity of the first transcribed nucleotide (N = A, m6A, G, C, U) and its methylation status (±2'-O-methylation). HPLC-purified mRNAs carrying these 5' caps were used to study protein expression in three mammalian cell lines (3T3-L1, HeLa and JAWS II). The highest expression was observed for mRNAs carrying 5'-terminal A/Am and m6Am, whereas the lowest was observed for G and Gm. The mRNAs carrying 2'-O-methyl at the first transcribed nucleotide (cap 1) had significantly higher expression than unmethylated counterparts (cap 0) only in JAWS II dendritic cells. Further experiments indicated that the mRNA expression characteristic does not correlate with affinity for translation initiation factor 4E or in vitro susceptibility to decapping, but instead depends on mRNA purity and the immune state of the cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pawel J Sikorski
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2C, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marcin Warminski
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 5, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dorota Kubacka
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 5, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Tomasz Ratajczak
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2C, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dominika Nowis
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2C, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Genomic Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Nielubowicza 5, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Joanna Kowalska
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 5, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jacek Jemielity
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2C, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
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