Modulating myoblast differentiation with RNA-based controllers

Tunable genetic controllers play a critical role in the engineering of biological systems that respond to environmental and cellular signals. RNA devices, a class of engineered RNA-based controllers, enable tunable gene expression control of target genes in response to molecular effectors. RNA devic...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Peter B. Dykstra, Thomas A. Rando, Christina D. Smolke
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2022-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9514614/?tool=EBI
_version_ 1811254829667844096
author Peter B. Dykstra
Thomas A. Rando
Christina D. Smolke
author_facet Peter B. Dykstra
Thomas A. Rando
Christina D. Smolke
author_sort Peter B. Dykstra
collection DOAJ
description Tunable genetic controllers play a critical role in the engineering of biological systems that respond to environmental and cellular signals. RNA devices, a class of engineered RNA-based controllers, enable tunable gene expression control of target genes in response to molecular effectors. RNA devices have been demonstrated in a number of systems showing proof-of-concept of applying ligand-responsive control over therapeutic activities, including regulation of cell fate decisions such as T cell proliferation and apoptosis. Here, we describe the application of a theophylline-responsive RNA device in a muscle progenitor cell system to control myogenic differentiation. Ribozyme-based RNA switches responsive to theophylline control fluorescent reporter expression in C2C12 myoblasts in a ligand dependent manner. HRAS and JAK1, both anti-differentiation proteins, were incorporated into RNA devices. Finally, we demonstrate that the regulation of HRAS expression via theophylline-responsive RNA devices results in the modulation of myoblast differentiation in a theophylline-dependent manner. Our work highlights the potential for RNA devices to exert drug-responsive, tunable control over cell fate decisions with applications in stem cell therapy and basic stem cell biology research.
first_indexed 2024-04-12T17:13:33Z
format Article
id doaj.art-e728123df10d4433af605164449df44a
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1932-6203
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-12T17:13:33Z
publishDate 2022-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj.art-e728123df10d4433af605164449df44a2022-12-22T03:23:43ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-01179Modulating myoblast differentiation with RNA-based controllersPeter B. DykstraThomas A. RandoChristina D. SmolkeTunable genetic controllers play a critical role in the engineering of biological systems that respond to environmental and cellular signals. RNA devices, a class of engineered RNA-based controllers, enable tunable gene expression control of target genes in response to molecular effectors. RNA devices have been demonstrated in a number of systems showing proof-of-concept of applying ligand-responsive control over therapeutic activities, including regulation of cell fate decisions such as T cell proliferation and apoptosis. Here, we describe the application of a theophylline-responsive RNA device in a muscle progenitor cell system to control myogenic differentiation. Ribozyme-based RNA switches responsive to theophylline control fluorescent reporter expression in C2C12 myoblasts in a ligand dependent manner. HRAS and JAK1, both anti-differentiation proteins, were incorporated into RNA devices. Finally, we demonstrate that the regulation of HRAS expression via theophylline-responsive RNA devices results in the modulation of myoblast differentiation in a theophylline-dependent manner. Our work highlights the potential for RNA devices to exert drug-responsive, tunable control over cell fate decisions with applications in stem cell therapy and basic stem cell biology research.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9514614/?tool=EBI
spellingShingle Peter B. Dykstra
Thomas A. Rando
Christina D. Smolke
Modulating myoblast differentiation with RNA-based controllers
PLoS ONE
title Modulating myoblast differentiation with RNA-based controllers
title_full Modulating myoblast differentiation with RNA-based controllers
title_fullStr Modulating myoblast differentiation with RNA-based controllers
title_full_unstemmed Modulating myoblast differentiation with RNA-based controllers
title_short Modulating myoblast differentiation with RNA-based controllers
title_sort modulating myoblast differentiation with rna based controllers
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9514614/?tool=EBI
work_keys_str_mv AT peterbdykstra modulatingmyoblastdifferentiationwithrnabasedcontrollers
AT thomasarando modulatingmyoblastdifferentiationwithrnabasedcontrollers
AT christinadsmolke modulatingmyoblastdifferentiationwithrnabasedcontrollers