Engineer RNA‐Protein Nanowires as Light‐Responsive Biomaterials. Issue 12 (15th January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Younas, Tayyaba; Liu, Chang; Struwe, Weston B.; Kukura, Philipp; He, Lizhong
• Is Part Of: Small. Volume 19:Issue 12(2023)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2023-01-15
• Subjects: aptamers -- hybrid biomaterials -- light responsiveness -- optogenetic proteins -- RNA‐protein nanowires; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanoparticles -- Periodicals; Microtechnology -- Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.202206513
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1613-6810

Abstract

Abstract: RNA molecules have emerged as increasingly attractive biomaterials with important applications such as RNA interference (RNAi) for cancer treatment and mRNA vaccines against infectious diseases. However, it remains challenging to engineer RNA biomaterials with sophisticated functions such as non‐covalent light‐switching ability. Herein, light‐responsive RNA‐protein nanowires are engineered to have such functions. It first demonstrates that the high affinity of RNA aptamer enables the formation of long RNA‐protein nanowires through designing a dimeric RNA aptamer and an engineered green fluorescence protein (GFP) that contains two TAT‐derived peptides at N‐ and C‐ termini. GFP is then replaced with an optogenetic protein pair system, LOV2 (light–oxygen–voltage) protein and its binding partner ZDK (Z subunit of protein A), to confer blue light‐controlled photo‐switching ability. The light‐responsive nanowires are long (>500 nm) in the dark, but small (20–30 nm) when exposed to light. Importantly, the co‐assembly of this RNA‐protein hybrid biomaterial does not rely on the photochemistry commonly used for light‐responsive biomaterials, such as bond formation, cleavage, and isomerization, and is thus reversible. These RNA‐protein structures can serve as a new class of light‐controlled biocompatible frameworks for incorporating versatile elements such as RNA, DNA, and enzymes. Abstract : The high affinity of RNA aptamer and RNA binding peptide (RBP), and light‐controlled binding of optogenetic protein pair (LOV2/ZDK) are used to engineer light‐responsive, length‐controllable RNA‐protein nanowires. They are long in dark, but small when exposed to blue light. These hybrid biomaterials can serve as new class of light‐controlled biocompatible frameworks for incorporating elements such as RNA, DNA, and enzymes.