Giacomo Fabrini, Nada Farag, Sabrina Pia Nuccio, Shiyi Li, Jaimie Marie Stewart, Anli A. Tang, Reece McCoy, Róisín M. Owens, Paul W. K. Rothemund, Elisa Franco, Marco Di Antonio, Lorenzo Di Michele
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Condensation of RNA and proteins is central to cellular functions, and the ability to program it would be valuable in synthetic biology and synthetic cell science. Here we introduce a modular platform for engineering synthetic RNA condensates from tailor-made, branched RNA nanostructures that fold and assemble co-transcriptionally. Up to three orthogonal condensates can form simultaneously and selectively accumulate fluorophores through embedded fluorescent light-up aptamers. The RNA condensates can be expressed within synthetic cells to produce membrane-less organelles with a controlled number and relative size, and showing the ability to capture proteins using selective protein-binding aptamers. The affinity between otherwise orthogonal nanostructures can be modulated by introducing dedicated linker constructs, enabling the production of bi-phasic RNA condensates with a prescribed degree of interphase mixing and diverse morphologies. The in situ expression of programmable RNA condensates could underpin the spatial organization of functionalities in both biological and synthetic cells.
期刊介绍:
Nature Nanotechnology is a prestigious journal that publishes high-quality papers in various areas of nanoscience and nanotechnology. The journal focuses on the design, characterization, and production of structures, devices, and systems that manipulate and control materials at atomic, molecular, and macromolecular scales. It encompasses both bottom-up and top-down approaches, as well as their combinations.
Furthermore, Nature Nanotechnology fosters the exchange of ideas among researchers from diverse disciplines such as chemistry, physics, material science, biomedical research, engineering, and more. It promotes collaboration at the forefront of this multidisciplinary field. The journal covers a wide range of topics, from fundamental research in physics, chemistry, and biology, including computational work and simulations, to the development of innovative devices and technologies for various industrial sectors such as information technology, medicine, manufacturing, high-performance materials, energy, and environmental technologies. It includes coverage of organic, inorganic, and hybrid materials.