RNA-protein Nanostructures for Synthetic Biology

Informazioni relative al progetto

RNA ORIGAMI

ID dell’accordo di sovvenzione: 683305

DOI

10.3030/683305

Progetto chiuso

Data della firma CE 29 Marzo 2016

Data di avvio 1 Aprile 2016

Data di completamento 31 Marzo 2021

Finanziato da

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)

Costo totale

€ 1 999 935,00

Contributo UE

€ 1 999 935,00

Coordinato da

AARHUS UNIVERSITET
Denmark

Periodic Reporting for period 4 - RNA ORIGAMI (RNA-protein Nanostructures for Synthetic Biology)

Periodo di rendicontazione: 2020-10-01 al 2021-03-31

Sintesi del contesto e degli obiettivi generali del progetto

The RNA ORIGAMI project aimed at rationally designing RNA nanostructures that can be genetically expressed and function as scaffolds for controlling e.g. protein function in cells. This technology can potentially be used for a wide range of applications in synthetic biology such as production of cheaper drugs, sustainable fuel production, efficient diagnosis, and RNA medicine. The main objectives of the project were to develop design software, to characterize designed RNA scaffolds, to develop RNA sensor devices, and to demonstrate proof-of-concept applications in synthetic biology. The project succeeded in developing software tools to improve size, yield and functionalization of RNA nanostructures, demonstrated novel RNA sensors, and applied RNA nanostructures in metabolic engineering.

Lavoro eseguito dall’inizio del progetto fino alla fine del periodo coperto dalla relazione e principali risultati finora ottenuti

The RNA ORIGAMI project initially developed software for the rapid design of RNA origami structures and used biophysical characterization techniques to verify the folding of the designed structures. The software has been made publicly available in a code repository and as a webserver and has been used for obtain several research results: (1) RNA sensors were developed based on Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) between fluorescent aptamers, (2) RNA therapeutic particles were developed to control blood coagulation, (3) RNA scaffolds were used to stabilize functional motifs in E. coli cells, (4) RNA scaffolds were used to control enzymatic reactions in E. coli and yeast. These core results are being exploited for RNA medicine and metabolic engineering and have been or are in the process of being published in the scientific literature.

Progressi oltre lo stato dell’arte e potenziale impatto previsto (incluso l’impatto socioeconomico e le implicazioni sociali più ampie del progetto fino ad ora)

The RNA ORIGAMI project has improved our ability to construct genetically expressible RNA nanostructures. We have improving folding yield, reached construct sizes of 2000 bases in length, and demonstrated precise scaffolding of proteins and small molecules. The development of an aptamer-based FRET system has provided a new way to develop genetically expressible sensors systems and to measure conformational changes in cells. RNA origami has been demonstrated as a powerful tool in synthetic biology by stabilizing functional motifs in cells, by regulating protein expression, and by controlling enzymatic pathways.

RNA origami folding