1. Modulating myoblast differentiation with RNA-based controllers
- Author
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Dykstra, Peter B, Rando, Thomas A, and Smolke, Christina D
- Subjects
Biochemistry and Cell Biology ,Biological Sciences ,Regenerative Medicine ,Stem Cell Research ,Biotechnology ,Stem Cell Research - Nonembryonic - Non-Human ,Genetics ,1.1 Normal biological development and functioning ,Underpinning research ,Cell Differentiation ,Ligands ,Muscle Development ,Myoblasts ,RNA ,RNA ,Catalytic ,Theophylline ,General Science & Technology - Abstract
Tunable genetic controllers play a critical role in the engineering of biological systems that respond to environmental and cellular signals. RNA devices, a class of engineered RNA-based controllers, enable tunable gene expression control of target genes in response to molecular effectors. RNA devices have been demonstrated in a number of systems showing proof-of-concept of applying ligand-responsive control over therapeutic activities, including regulation of cell fate decisions such as T cell proliferation and apoptosis. Here, we describe the application of a theophylline-responsive RNA device in a muscle progenitor cell system to control myogenic differentiation. Ribozyme-based RNA switches responsive to theophylline control fluorescent reporter expression in C2C12 myoblasts in a ligand dependent manner. HRAS and JAK1, both anti-differentiation proteins, were incorporated into RNA devices. Finally, we demonstrate that the regulation of HRAS expression via theophylline-responsive RNA devices results in the modulation of myoblast differentiation in a theophylline-dependent manner. Our work highlights the potential for RNA devices to exert drug-responsive, tunable control over cell fate decisions with applications in stem cell therapy and basic stem cell biology research.
- Published
- 2022