Biotechnological and Therapeutic Applications of Natural Nucleic Acid Structural Motifs
Abstract Genetic information and the blueprint of life are stored in the form of nucleic acids. The primary sequence of DNA, read from the canonical double helix, provides the code for RNA and protein synthesis. Yet these already-information-rich molecules have higher-order structures which play cr...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer International Publishing
2021
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/131486 |
| _version_ | 1826214103532699648 |
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| author | Duan, Jinwei Wang, Xing Kizer, Megan E |
| author2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Biology |
| author_facet | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Biology Duan, Jinwei Wang, Xing Kizer, Megan E |
| author_sort | Duan, Jinwei |
| collection | MIT |
| description | Abstract
Genetic information and the blueprint of life are stored in the form of nucleic acids. The primary sequence of DNA, read from the canonical double helix, provides the code for RNA and protein synthesis. Yet these already-information-rich molecules have higher-order structures which play critical roles in transcription and translation. Uncovering the sequences, parameters, and conditions which govern the formation of these structural motifs has allowed researchers to study them and to utilize them in biotechnological and therapeutic applications in vitro and in vivo. This review covers both DNA and RNA structural motifs found naturally in biological systems including catalytic nucleic acids, non-coding RNA, aptamers, G-quadruplexes, i-motifs, and Holliday junctions. For each category, an overview of the structural characteristics, biological prevalence, and function will be discussed. The biotechnological and therapeutic applications of these structural motifs are highlighted. Future perspectives focus on the addition of proteins and unnatural modifications to enhance structural stability for greater applicability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T15:59:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | mit-1721.1/131486 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T15:59:52Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | Springer International Publishing |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/1314862023-01-11T19:36:24Z Biotechnological and Therapeutic Applications of Natural Nucleic Acid Structural Motifs Duan, Jinwei Wang, Xing Kizer, Megan E Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Biology Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Chemistry Abstract Genetic information and the blueprint of life are stored in the form of nucleic acids. The primary sequence of DNA, read from the canonical double helix, provides the code for RNA and protein synthesis. Yet these already-information-rich molecules have higher-order structures which play critical roles in transcription and translation. Uncovering the sequences, parameters, and conditions which govern the formation of these structural motifs has allowed researchers to study them and to utilize them in biotechnological and therapeutic applications in vitro and in vivo. This review covers both DNA and RNA structural motifs found naturally in biological systems including catalytic nucleic acids, non-coding RNA, aptamers, G-quadruplexes, i-motifs, and Holliday junctions. For each category, an overview of the structural characteristics, biological prevalence, and function will be discussed. The biotechnological and therapeutic applications of these structural motifs are highlighted. Future perspectives focus on the addition of proteins and unnatural modifications to enhance structural stability for greater applicability. 2021-09-20T17:17:16Z 2021-09-20T17:17:16Z 2020-02-18 2020-09-24T21:18:53Z Article http://purl.org/eprint/type/JournalArticle https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/131486 Topics in Current Chemistry. 2020 Feb 18;378(2):26 en https://doi.org/10.1007/s41061-020-0290-z Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use. Springer Nature Switzerland AG application/pdf Springer International Publishing Springer International Publishing |
| spellingShingle | Duan, Jinwei Wang, Xing Kizer, Megan E Biotechnological and Therapeutic Applications of Natural Nucleic Acid Structural Motifs |
| title | Biotechnological and Therapeutic Applications of Natural Nucleic Acid Structural Motifs |
| title_full | Biotechnological and Therapeutic Applications of Natural Nucleic Acid Structural Motifs |
| title_fullStr | Biotechnological and Therapeutic Applications of Natural Nucleic Acid Structural Motifs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biotechnological and Therapeutic Applications of Natural Nucleic Acid Structural Motifs |
| title_short | Biotechnological and Therapeutic Applications of Natural Nucleic Acid Structural Motifs |
| title_sort | biotechnological and therapeutic applications of natural nucleic acid structural motifs |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/131486 |
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