Skip to main content
European Commission logo print header

RNA-protein Nanostructures for Synthetic Biology

Descripción del proyecto

Estructuras proteína-ARN cuyo plegamiento puede programarse en las células

La nanotecnología del ADN utiliza ácidos nucleicos artificiales para crear nanoestructuras de ADN para aplicaciones como la administración de fármacos y el diagnóstico. La biología sintética se centra en la reingeniería de los organismos y sus procesos. Sin embargo, no puede aprovechar los métodos de ensamblaje del ADN perfeccionados para la nanotecnología del ADN porque no son compatibles con su uso en células. El equipo del proyecto RNA ORIGAMI, financiado por el Consejo Europeo de Investigación, se basará en su revolucionario método de «papiroflexia de ARN» para diseñar una estructura general proteína-ARN compatible con el plegamiento durante la síntesis. Se utilizará un método de diseño racional para programar el proceso de plegamiento, expresar las nanoestructuras de proteína-ARN en células y demostrar su aplicación en la biología sintética.

Objetivo

Synthetic biology aims at re-engineering organisms for practical applications by designing novel biomolecular components, networks, and pathways. The field is expected to lead to cheaper drugs, sustainable fuel production, efficient diagnosis and targeted therapies for diseases. However, a major obstacle to achieve these goals is our limited ability to rationally design biomolecular structure and function. By contrast, the field of DNA nanotechnology has so far demonstrated an unprecedented ability to design and self-assemble well-defined molecular shapes, although the production method of thermal annealing is not compatible with cells. We have recently demonstrated a breakthrough method, called RNA origami, which allows the design of RNA molecules that fold into well-defined nanoscale shapes during their synthesis by an RNA polymerase. In this proposal I aim at extending this technology to produce RNA-protein nanostructures and at demonstrating their application in synthetic biology. My primary scientific hypothesis is that understanding the folding process during synthesis will help us to design nanostructures that can be produced in cells. I will design a general RNA-protein architecture that is compatible with folding during synthesis. I will investigate folding kinetics to be able to design and program the dynamical folding process. Based on this, RNA-protein nanostructures will be designed, expressed in cells, and verified, for the formation of the desired shapes. We will develop new functionalities by both rational design and selection approaches with the aim of obtaining multivalent-binding and switching properties. Finally, the functional RNA-protein nanostructures will be applied in proof-of-concept experiments to demonstrate efficient, multivalent targeting of subcellular structures, biosensing of a variety of intracellular analytes, metabolic channeling of biosynthesis pathways, and complex control of transcriptional networks.

Régimen de financiación

ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant

Institución de acogida

AARHUS UNIVERSITET
Aportación neta de la UEn
€ 1 999 935,00
Dirección
NORDRE RINGGADE 1
8000 Aarhus C
Dinamarca

Ver en el mapa

Región
Danmark Midtjylland Østjylland
Tipo de actividad
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Enlaces
Coste total
€ 1 999 935,00

Beneficiarios (1)