Light-Toggled Gene Expression in Mammalian Cells
Abstract
Reported herein is the spatiotemporal regulation of the crucial phenomenon of RNA interference by exploiting photocleavable organic reagent as a caging group. Site-specific covalent attachment of the caging group to the phosphorothioate backbone of the dsRNA by a facile and mild postsynthetic method renders a noninvasive control of gene knockdown by light irradiation, blocking the RNAi and subsequently turning “on” siRNA via its photocleavage by non-toxic UV. We demonstrate that a photolabile intracellular compatible caging group formed by a nucleophilic substitution reaction between the phosphorothioate backbone of the sense or antisense strand of the dsRNA and the organic moiety can readily toggle the GFP expression in mammalian cancer cells.
Degree
M.S.
Advisors
MAO, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Biochemistry|Organic chemistry
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