Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Afonin, Kirill A.
• Viard, Mathias
• Martins, Angelica N.
• Lockett, Stephen J.
• Maciag, Anna E.
• Freed, Eric O.
• Heldman, Eliahu
• Jaeger, Luc
• Blumenthal, Robert
• Shapiro, Bruce A.

Titel

Activation of different split functionalities upon re-association of RNA-DNA hybrids

Ist Teil von

• Nature nanotechnology, 2013-03, Vol.8 (4), p.296-304

Erscheinungsjahr

2013

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

Alma/SFX Local Collection

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Split-protein systems, an approach that relies on fragmentation of proteins with their further conditional re-association to form functional complexes, are increasingly used for various biomedical applications. This approach offers tight control of the protein functions and improved detection sensitivity. Here we show a similar technique based on a pair of RNA-DNA hybrids that can be generally used for triggering different split functionalities. Individually, each hybrid is inactive but when two cognate hybrids re-associate, different functionalities are triggered inside mammalian cells. As a proof of concept this work is mainly focused on activation of RNA interference; however the release of other functionalities (resonance energy transfer and RNA aptamer) is also shown. Furthermore, in vivo studies demonstrate a significant uptake of the hybrids by tumors together with specific gene silencing. This split-functionality approach presents a new route in the development of “smart” nucleic acids based nanoparticles and switches for various biomedical applications.