Ribozyme-Spherical Nucleic Acids

J Am Chem Soc. 2015 Aug 26;137(33):10528-10531. doi: 10.1021/jacs.5b07104. Epub 2015 Aug 14.

Abstract

Ribozymes are highly structured RNA sequences that can be tailored to recognize and cleave specific stretches of mRNA. Their current therapeutic efficacy remains low due to their large size and structural instability compared to shorter therapeutically relevant RNA such as small interfering RNA (siRNA) and microRNA (miRNA). Herein, a synthetic strategy that makes use of the spherical nucleic acid (SNA) architecture to stabilize ribozymes and transfect them into live cells is reported. The properties of this novel ribozyme-SNA are characterized in the context of the targeted knockdown of O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), a DNA repair protein involved in chemotherapeutic resistance of solid tumors, foremost glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Data showing the direct cleavage of full-length MGMT mRNA, knockdown of MGMT protein, and increased sensitization of GBM cells to therapy-mediated apoptosis, independent of transfection agents, provide compelling evidence for the promising properties of this new chemical architecture.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biological Transport
  • Caspases / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA Modification Methylases / deficiency
  • DNA Modification Methylases / genetics
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Gene Silencing
  • Humans
  • RNA, Catalytic / chemistry*
  • RNA, Catalytic / genetics*
  • Transfection

Substances

  • RNA, Catalytic
  • DNA Modification Methylases
  • Caspases