Seminar: Synthetic RNA switches and nanodevices for cell programming

Title:
Synthetic RNA switches and nanodevices for cell programming

Speaker:
Dr. Hirohide Saito
Professor of Department of Life Science Frontiers, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application　(CiRA), Kyoto University

Abstract:
The precise identification and purification of target cells is critical to both study cell function and prepare cells for medical applications. However, intracellular information to distinguish many cell types remains largely inaccessible. We recently developed a method for high-resolution identification, separation, and purification of mammalian cells by quantifying microRNA (miRNA) activities. We designed synthetic mRNAs encoding a protein of interest tagged with target sequences of miRNAs. These “miRNA switches” purified variety of target cells, including cardiomyocytes, hepatocytes, and insulin-producing cells, differentiated from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) with high efficiency, accuracy, and safety. In addition, the designed miRNA switches automatically killed undesired cells without cell sorting. Now, we are preparing a set of “miR-switch-dictionary” to identify a variety of live cell-types.

I will also explain synthetic RNA nanostructured devices that detect protein signals and control mammalian cell fate.

References:
Miki K et al; Cell Stem Cell, 2015, 16(6):699-711
Wroblewska L et al; Nature Biotechnology, 2015, 33(8):839-41
Parr CJ et al; Scientific Reports, 2016, 6:32532.

Host:
Nucleic Acid Chemistry and Engineering Unit