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Prof. Michael Booth, University College London: Nucleic acid conjugates: remote control, targeting, and entirely new functions

Speaker Series. Abstract: We are entering the age of nucleic acid (DNA/RNA) technologies. DNA and RNA form the basis for many therapeutic and experimental technologies, including gene editing and silencing, several aspects of nanotechnology, aptamers and their applications, and cell-free gene expression. However, their application is limited by the chemistry of nucleic acids. A major goal of the Booth group is the generation of nucleic acid conjugates to overcome current major challenges in their delivery and targeting, and to produce entirely new functions to increase their therapeutic potential. Controlling nucleic acid function would greatly expand their application in biology and medicine, by reducing toxic on/off-target effects. To this end, we have generated remote-controlled nucleic acids under the control of orthogonal wavelengths of light (JACS, Chem. Sci.) and magnetism (BioRxiv). These controllable nucleic acids have also been applied in synthetic cells to control their communication with living cells (Nat. Chem. Biol.). Antisense oligonucleotides, short single stranded synthetic oligos, are the predominant form of nucleic acid therapeutics in the clinic. However, despite their success, approved ASOs target a narrow spectrum of diseases and their key mechanisms of action are predominantly localised within the nucleus. We have attached a nuclear importer to improve their activity in the nucleus (ChemRxiv) and developed a new mechanism of action for targeted mRNA degradation in the cytoplasm (unpublished). These nucleic acid conjugates will form the basis of a whole new suite of targeted therapeutics and technologies for basic research.

Veranstaltungsdaten

Prof. Booth will be available for meetings with other researchers. Please contact Antje Becker if you wish to speak with our guest.