TITLE: Applications of a synthetic base-triple motif in nucleic acid structure-function, diagnostics and delivery
PRESENTER: Dennis Bong, PhD, Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry The Ohio State University
WHEN: Tuesday, November 17, 2020, 5:00 PM
WHERE: ZOOM
https://northwestern.zoom.us/j/93571705808?pwd=bko5bldMQnJtMVhiempoTG9jcnIrQT09
Meeting ID: 935 7170 5808
Passcode: 534600
Abstract
Applications of a synthetic base-triple motif in nucleic acid structure-function, diagnostics and delivery
We and others have demonstrated the use of triaminotriazine (melamine) as a synthetic base-triple motif in a family of molecules that include bifacial peptide nucleic acid (bPNA). Bifacial PNA and related artificial scaffolds displaying melamine, such as peptoid, polyacrylate and small synthetic backbones, can engage two oligo T/U strands simultaneously to form unique triple stranded structures. These bPNAs can serve as allosteric triggers of aptamer protein-binding, ribozyme catalysis, aptamer small-molecule binding and scaffolds for potent siRNA delivery. Recently, we have demonstrated successful siRNA packaging and in vivo silencing of an endogenous liver-target using GalNAc-modified bPNA-siRNA complexes, as well as development of new probes for RNA tertiary interactions. Fluorogen-tagged bPNAs can address internal, genetically encoded U-rich bulges and loops in folded nucleic acid structures and report on RNA tertiary interactions with RNA and protein within lncRNA models. Overall, a wide range of applications emerge from the use of a simple artificial base triple unit.
Biography
Dennis Bong obtained a BSc in Chemistry at UC Berkeley working with K. Peter C. Vollhardt and his PhD at the Scripps Research Institute under the direction of M. Reza Ghadiri. Following a postdoctoral stint at Columbia University with Ronald Breslow, he joined the faculty at the Ohio State University, where he is a full professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. His research group focuses on the design of synthetic reagents that bind structured DNAs and RNAs via formation of artificial base-triples.