Chimeric Flaviviral RNA-siRNA Molecules Resist Degradation by The Exoribonuclease Xrn1 and Trigger Gene Silencing in Mammalian Cells
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Date
2021-11-03
Publication Type
Journal Article
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yes
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Abstract
RNA is an emerging platform for drug delivery, but the susceptibility of RNA to nuclease degradation remains a major barrier to its implementation in vivo. Here, we engineered flaviviral Xrn1-resistant RNA (xrRNA) motifs to host small interfering RNA (siRNA) duplexes. The xrRNA-siRNA molecules self-assemble in vitro, resist degradation by the conserved eukaryotic 5' to 3' exoribonuclease Xrn1, and trigger gene silencing in 293T cells. The resistance of the molecules to Xrn1 does not translate to stability in blood serum. Nevertheless, our results demonstrate that flavivirus-derived xrRNA motifs can confer Xrn1 resistance on a model therapeutic payload and set the stage for further investigations into using the motifs as building blocks in RNA nanotechnology.
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published
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Journal / series
Volume
22 (21)
Pages / Article No.
3099 - 3106
Publisher
Wiley-VCH
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Date collected
Date created
Subject
exonuclease-resistant RNA; RNA nanotechnology; self-assembly; small interfering RNA
Organisational unit
03760 - Hall, Jonathan / Hall, Jonathan
Notes
Funding
190865 - Engineering ‘smart’ viral RNA structures for stable and targeted siRNA delivery (SNF)