Designing Reversible Photoswitching Azobenzene-Modified Nucleotide for Controlling Biological Function
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: RNA plays vital roles in numerous normal and diseased cellular functions and processes. Reversible photoregulation of oligonucleotide's structure and function is a powerful strategy for both regulating biological processes and developing novel RNA-based therapeutics. Herein, we designed an azobenzene-modified cytidine phosphoramidite and synthesized a series of oligoribonucleotides containing this photoswitchable residue. We validated the reversible photoisomerization in both ribonucleoside and oligoribonucleotide contexts and studied the overall impact of this cytidine modification through all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and UV melting experiments. We also showed that the modified oligoribonucleotide can switch the reverse transcription (RT) process upon light irradiation in the presence of various RT enzymes. In addition, the optical control mechanism of the HIV reverse transcriptase-mediated RT process was elucidated by MD simulation. This new chemical biology toolset enables reversible optical control of RNA structures and functions for gene regulation and novel drug development.
DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c03252
Authors: Juncheng Li, Jinxi Du, Weiwei He, Ibrahim O. Adelakun, Miao Zhong, Savia Boyer, Ya Ying Zheng, Qishan Lin, Serdal Kirmizialtin, Jia Sheng, Ting Wang
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,500
Awards: G2456922444, G3970026811, G4356619580, G5394461159, G6057571823, MRI: Acquisition of a 500 MHz NMR Spectrometer for Research and Training, Optimizing Enhanced Hammerhead Ribozymes for Retinal Nucleic Acid Therapeutics, Chemical Modifications to Wobble Uridines in tRNA Regulate Responses to Stress
OpenAlex ID: W4411266183