The interconnection of microRNAs (miRNAs) and metal ions governs multiple biological processes in disease development and progression. However, developing multiplexed tools for dynamic imaging of these regulators remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report a conceptual approach for the design of an optically controlled DNA nanomachine by introducing a ternary DNAzyme-based, UV light-cleavable DNA scaffold and upconversion nanoparticle to the activatable hybrid chain reaction. We demonstrate that this nanomachine is capable of being effectively operated either in the presence of an endogenous miRNA target or the coexistence of intracellular Zn 2+ and external near-infrared light, resulting in enhanced fluorescence resonance energy transfer signals. With this design, the logic-gated imaging of endogenous miR-21 and Zn 2+ is demonstrated in living cells. More importantly, taking advantages of photoacoustic imaging modality, a combinational logic circuit (AND/OR) is constructed for the bioorthogonal cascade imaging of miR-21 and Zn 2+ in vivo, realizing dynamic monitoring of the correlation of miRNA and metal ions levels. Collectively, our results suggest that this conceptual design possesses the ability to expand the DNA nanomachine toolbox for visualizing a broad spectrum of interconnected molecules and thus provides new perspectives to improve the diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes.
By cross-catenating two DNA rings containing palindromic fragments, we demonstrate a catenane-based grid-patterned periodic DNA monolayer array ([2]GDA) capable of accumulating in tumor tissues and amenable to the delivery of anticancer drugs.
Nucleocytoplasmic shuttling proteins (NSPs) has emerged as a promising class of therapeutic targets for many diseases including cancer. However, most reported NSPs-based therapies largely rely on small molecule inhibitors with limited efficacy and off-target effects. Proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) represents a revolutionary inhibitory modality for targeted protein degradation with many advantages, including substoichiometric catalytic activity, improved selectivity, and high efficacy. However, the majority of reported PROTACs so far are still limited to the degradation of cytoplasmic proteins and lack of tumor-specific targeting. To realize the full potential of the PROTAC technology and broaden its applications for the degradation of NSPs, we herein report a conceptual approach for the design of a new archetype of PROTAC (denoted as PS-ApTCs) by introducing phosphorothioate-modified AS1411 aptamer to a ligand of the CRBN E3 ligase, realizing tumor-targeting and spatioselective degradation with improved efficacy. We have demonstrated that PS-ApTCs is capable of effectively degrading nucleolin in target cell membrane and cytoplasm but not in the nucleus, in a CRBN- and proteasome-dependent manner. In addition, PS-ApTCs exhibits superior antiproliferation, pro-apoptotic, and cell cycle arrest potencies. Importantly, we demonstrate for the first time that combination of PS-ApTCs-mediated nucleolin degradation with aptamer-drug conjugates-based chemotherapy can enable an AND-gated synergistic effect on tumor inhibition. Collectively, our results suggest that PS-ApTCs possess the ability to expand the PROTACs toolbox to even wider range of targets in subcellular localization and accelerate the discovery of new combinational therapeutic approaches.
Owing to the global spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), education has shifted to distance online learning, whereas some face-to-face courses have been resumed with the improvement of the outbreak prevention and management situation, including a laboratory course for senior undergraduate students in chemical biology. Here, we present an innovative chemical biology experiment covering COVID-19 topics, which was created for third-year undergraduates. The basic principles of two nucleic-acid- and antigen-based diagnostic techniques for SARS-CoV-2 are demonstrated in detail. These experiments are designed to provide students with comprehensive knowledge of COVID-19 and related diagnoses in daily life. Crucially, the biosafety of this experimental manipulation was ensured by using artificial nucleic acids and recombinant protein. Furthermore, an interactive hybrid online-facing teaching model was designed to cover the key mechanism regarding PCR and serological tests of COVID-19. Finally, a satisfactory evaluation was obtained through a questionnaire, and simultaneously, reasonable improvements to the course design were suggested. The proposed curriculum provides all the necessary information for other instructors to create new courses supported by research.
The level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 [25(OH)VD3] in human blood is considered as the best indicator of vitamin D status, and its deficiency or excess can lead to various health problems. Current methods for monitoring 25(OH)VD3 metabolism in living cells have limitations in terms of sensitivity and specificity and are often expensive and time-consuming. To address these issues, an innovative trident scaffold-assisted aptasensor (TSA) system has been developed for the online quantitative monitoring of 25(OH)VD3 in complex biological environments. Through the computer-aided design, the TSA system includes an aptamer molecule recognition layer that is uniformly oriented, maximizing binding site availability, and enhancing sensitivity. The TSA system achieved the direct, highly sensitive, and selective detection of 25(OH)VD3 over a wide concentration range (17.4− 12,800 nM), with a limit of detection of 17.4 nM. Moreover, we evaluated the efficacy of the system in monitoring the biotransformation of 25(OH)VD3 in human liver cancer cells (HepG2) and normal liver cells (L-02), demonstrating its potential as a platform for drug−drug interaction studies and candidate drug screening.
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