In Vivo Evolution of an RNA-Based Transcriptional Activator

Summary This invention claims a method of evolving potent RNA transcriptional regulators using a combination of directed evolution and site directed mutagenesis. Also described are specifically evolved RNA aptamers and their structures. The potency of the evolved RNA based transcriptional activators is comparable to that of the most active naturally occurring protein transcriptional activation domains.

RNA aptamers offer several advantages over peptamers: i) random RNA pools will form relatively greater amounts of stable secondary structures than comparable amounts of peptides can form well-folded motifs; ii) characterization of structure and function of RNA based transcription activators is likely to simpler; and iii) RNA aptamer function can be regulated in the presence or absences of specific ligands.

Related publication: "In Vivo Evolution of an RNA Transcriptional Activator" Buskirk, A. R.; Kehayova, P. D.; Landrigan, A.; Liu, D. R. Chem. Biol. 10, 533-540 (2003).

Applications This technology may serve as a tool for studying selectable or screenable intracellular processes and should be of interest to researchers studying transcription and/or gene regulation. For Further Information Please Contact the Director of Business Development Vivian Berlin Email: [email protected] Telephone: (617) 495-0474

Inventor(s): Liu, David R.

Type of Offer: Licensing



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