Development of nucleic acid enzymes for new nucleic acid medicines based on the transition state in molecular degradation

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15KT0057
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 特設分野
• Research Field: Transition State Control
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Okamoto Akimitsu 東京大学, 先端科学技術研究センター, 教授 (60314233)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 林 剛介 東京大学, 大学院工学系研究科(工学部), 助教 (40648268)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-07-10 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: RNA / アプタマー / 核酸構造 / バクテリア

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The solid-state fermentation (SSF) bioprocesses are performed in complex solid-rich systems that present significant challenges for effective monitoring of bacterial population dynamics. We have developed an efficient chemical system that allows quantification of bacteria population by fluorescence-based analysis. The key component in the system is the exciton-controlled fluorescent RNA aptamer, which was covalently conjugated to two thiazole orange moieties and serves as a competitor of bacterial ribosome. The intensity of fluorescence from such a ribosome-sensing system was controlled by the excitonic interaction between dyes in the RNA aptamer and it increased drastically in the presence of Escherichia coli. This innovative fluorescence-based competition system is valuable for quantification without any extraction of bacterial nucleic acids, and provides the simplest and most feasible way to optimize SSF bioprocesses.

Free Research Field

生物有機化学