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Lee M, Kim M, Lee M, Kim S, Park N. Nanosized DNA Hydrogel Functionalized with a DNAzyme Tetrahedron for Highly Efficient Gene Silencing. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:4913-4924. [PMID: 38963792 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
DNAzymes are DNA oligonucleotides that have catalytic activity without the assistance of protein enzymes. In particular, RNA-cleaving DNAzymes were considered as ideal candidates for gene therapy due to their unique characteristics. Nevertheless, efforts to use DNAzyme as a gene therapeutic agent are limited by issues such as their low physiological stability in serum and intracellular delivery efficiency. In this study, we developed a nanosized synthetic DNA hydrogel functionalized with a DNAzyme tetrahedron (TDz Dgel) to overcome these limitations. We observed remarkable improvement in the gene-silencing effect as well as intracellular uptake without the support of gene transfection reagents using TDz Dgel. The improved catalytic activity of the DNAzyme resulted from the combination of the cell-penetrating DNA tetrahedron structure and high stability of DNA hydrogel. We envision that this approach will become a convenient and efficient strategy for gene-silencing therapy using DNAzyme in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minhyuk Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Minchul Kim
- Department of Chemistry and the Natural Science Research Institute, Myongji University, 116 Myongji-ro, Yongin-si 17058, Republic of Korea
| | - Minjae Lee
- Department of Chemistry and the Natural Science Research Institute, Myongji University, 116 Myongji-ro, Yongin-si 17058, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungjee Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Nokyoung Park
- Department of Chemistry and the Natural Science Research Institute, Myongji University, 116 Myongji-ro, Yongin-si 17058, Republic of Korea
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Nedorezova DD, Dubovichenko MV, Kalnin AJ, Nour MAY, Eldeeb AA, Ashmarova AI, Kurbanov GF, Kolpashchikov DM. Cleaving Folded RNA with DNAzyme Agents. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202300637. [PMID: 37870555 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300637] [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: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Cleavage of biological mRNA by DNAzymes (Dz) has been proposed as a variation of oligonucleotide gene therapy (OGT). The design of Dz-based OGT agents includes computational prediction of two RNA-binding arms with low affinity (melting temperatures (Tm ) close to the reaction temperature of 37 °C) to avoid product inhibition and maintain high specificity. However, RNA cleavage might be limited by the RNA binding step especially if the RNA is folded in secondary structures. This calls for the need for two high-affinity RNA-binding arms. In this study, we optimized 10-23 Dz-based OGT agents for cleavage of three RNA targets with different folding energies under multiple turnover conditions in 2 mM Mg2+ at 37 °C. Unexpectedly, one optimized Dz had each RNA-binding arm with a Tm ≥60 °C, without suffering from product inhibition or low selectivity. This phenomenon was explained by the folding of the RNA cleavage products into stable secondary structures. This result suggests that Dz with long (high affinity) RNA-binding arms should not be excluded from the candidate pool for OGT agents. Rather, analysis of the cleavage products' folding should be included in Dz selection algorithms. The Dz optimization workflow should include testing with folded rather than linear RNA substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria D Nedorezova
- Laboratory of molecular robotics and biosensor systems, Laboratory of Frontier nucleic acid technologies in gene therapy of cancer, SCAMT Institute, ITMO University, St. Petersburg, 191002, Russian Federation
| | - Mikhail V Dubovichenko
- Laboratory of molecular robotics and biosensor systems, Laboratory of Frontier nucleic acid technologies in gene therapy of cancer, SCAMT Institute, ITMO University, St. Petersburg, 191002, Russian Federation
| | - Arseniy J Kalnin
- Laboratory of molecular robotics and biosensor systems, Laboratory of Frontier nucleic acid technologies in gene therapy of cancer, SCAMT Institute, ITMO University, St. Petersburg, 191002, Russian Federation
| | - Moustapha A Y Nour
- Laboratory of molecular robotics and biosensor systems, Laboratory of Frontier nucleic acid technologies in gene therapy of cancer, SCAMT Institute, ITMO University, St. Petersburg, 191002, Russian Federation
| | - Ahmed A Eldeeb
- Laboratory of molecular robotics and biosensor systems, Laboratory of Frontier nucleic acid technologies in gene therapy of cancer, SCAMT Institute, ITMO University, St. Petersburg, 191002, Russian Federation
| | - Anna I Ashmarova
- Laboratory of molecular robotics and biosensor systems, Laboratory of Frontier nucleic acid technologies in gene therapy of cancer, SCAMT Institute, ITMO University, St. Petersburg, 191002, Russian Federation
| | - Gabdulla F Kurbanov
- Laboratory of molecular robotics and biosensor systems, Laboratory of Frontier nucleic acid technologies in gene therapy of cancer, SCAMT Institute, ITMO University, St. Petersburg, 191002, Russian Federation
| | - Dmitry M Kolpashchikov
- Laboratory of molecular robotics and biosensor systems, Laboratory of Frontier nucleic acid technologies in gene therapy of cancer, SCAMT Institute, ITMO University, St. Petersburg, 191002, Russian Federation
- Chemistry Department, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816-2366, USA
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA
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Mechanistic and Therapeutic Insights into Ataxic Disorders with Pentanucleotide Expansions. Cells 2022; 11:cells11091567. [PMID: 35563872 PMCID: PMC9099484 DOI: 10.3390/cells11091567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Pentanucleotide expansion diseases constitute a special class of neurodegeneration. The repeat expansions occur in non-coding regions, have likely arisen from Alu elements, and often result in autosomal dominant or recessive phenotypes with underlying cerebellar neuropathology. When transcribed (potentially bidirectionally), the expanded RNA forms complex secondary and tertiary structures that can give rise to RNA-mediated toxicity, including protein sequestration, pentapeptide synthesis, and mRNA dysregulation. Since several of these diseases have recently been discovered, our understanding of their pathological mechanisms is limited, and their therapeutic interventions underexplored. This review aims to highlight new in vitro and in vivo insights into these incurable diseases.
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