Site-Selective RNA Splicing Nanozyme: DNAzyme and RtcB Conjugates on a Gold Nanoparticle

ACS Chem Biol. 2018 Jan 19;13(1):215-224. doi: 10.1021/acschembio.7b00437. Epub 2017 Dec 19.

Abstract

Modifying RNA through either splicing or editing is a fundamental biological process for creating protein diversity from the same genetic code. Developing novel chemical biology tools for RNA editing has potential to transiently edit genes and to provide a better understanding of RNA biochemistry. Current techniques used to modify RNA include the use of ribozymes, adenosine deaminase, and tRNA endonucleases. Herein, we report a nanozyme that is capable of splicing virtually any RNA stem-loop. This nanozyme is comprised of a gold nanoparticle functionalized with three enzymes: two catalytic DNA strands with ribonuclease function and an RNA ligase. The nanozyme cleaves and then ligates RNA targets, performing a splicing reaction that is akin to the function of the spliceosome. Our results show that the three-enzyme reaction can remove a 19 nt segment from a 67 nt RNA loop with up to 66% efficiency. The complete nanozyme can perform the same splice reaction at 10% efficiency. These splicing nanozymes represent a new promising approach for gene manipulation that has potential for applications in living cells.

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

  • Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases / chemistry
  • Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases / genetics
  • Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases / metabolism*
  • DNA, Catalytic / chemistry
  • DNA, Catalytic / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / chemistry
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism*
  • Gold / chemistry
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • RNA Splice Sites
  • RNA Splicing*

Substances

  • DNA, Catalytic
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • RNA Splice Sites
  • Gold
  • Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases
  • RtcB protein, E coli