Biofunctional DNA Nanotech Mini Symposium
Event details
| Date | 26.08.2024 |
| Hour | 14:00 › 16:00 |
| Speaker | - PD Dr. Adrian Keller, Dept. of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Paderborn University, Paderborn (Germany) - Prof. Barbara Saccà, Dept. of Bionanotechnology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen (Germany) |
| Location | Online |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
| Event Language | English |
Biofunctional DNA Nanotech Mini Symposium - double talk seminar
[1] DNA Origami Nanostructures for Antimicrobial Therapy
PD Dr. Adrian Keller, Dept. of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Paderborn University, Paderborn (Germany)
Abstract:
DNA origami has become a widely employed method for synthesizing fully biocompatible, biodegradable, and nontoxic nanocarriers for biomedicine. In this regard, previous research has mostly focused on applications in cancer therapy, whereas potential applications in the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases have only recently received broader attention.
This presentation will summarize our recent and ongoing activities directed at synthesizing, characterizing, and testing antimicrobial DNA origami nanostructures for combating drug-resistant bacteria. In particular, we investigate applications of DNA origami nanostructures as nanocarriers in antimicrobial photodynamic therapy and as templates for the synthesis of multivalent antibiotics nanoarrays with enhanced antimicrobial activity. Both approaches are tested against model bacteria and the most promising formulations are identified. Potential strategies for a further enhancement of antimicrobial activity will be discussed.
[2] Modular DNA Origami Compartments for the Engineering of a Protein Unfolding and Degradation Pathway
Prof. Barbara Saccà, Dept. of Bionanotechnology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen (Germany)
Within the cell, chemical reactions are often confined and organized through a modular architecture. This facilitates the targeted localization of molecular species and their efficient translocation to subsequent sites. Here, we present a cell-free nanoscale model that exploits this compartmentalization principle to carry out regulated protein unfolding and degradation. Our model is composed of two connected DNA origami nanocompartments, one containing the protein unfolding machine, p97, and the other housing the protease chymotrypsin. We achieve the unidirectional immobilization of p97 within the first compartment, establishing a ‘gateway’ mechanism that controls substrate recruitment, translocation, and processing within the second compartment. Our data show that, whereas spatial confinement increases the rate of the individual reactions, physical connection of the compartmentalized enzymes into a chimera further improves their performance and minimizes off-target proteolysis. We anticipate that our modular approach may serve as a blueprint for engineering artificial nanofactories with reshaped catalytic performance and functionalities even beyond those observed in natural systems.
[1] DNA Origami Nanostructures for Antimicrobial Therapy
PD Dr. Adrian Keller, Dept. of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Paderborn University, Paderborn (Germany)
Abstract:
DNA origami has become a widely employed method for synthesizing fully biocompatible, biodegradable, and nontoxic nanocarriers for biomedicine. In this regard, previous research has mostly focused on applications in cancer therapy, whereas potential applications in the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases have only recently received broader attention.
This presentation will summarize our recent and ongoing activities directed at synthesizing, characterizing, and testing antimicrobial DNA origami nanostructures for combating drug-resistant bacteria. In particular, we investigate applications of DNA origami nanostructures as nanocarriers in antimicrobial photodynamic therapy and as templates for the synthesis of multivalent antibiotics nanoarrays with enhanced antimicrobial activity. Both approaches are tested against model bacteria and the most promising formulations are identified. Potential strategies for a further enhancement of antimicrobial activity will be discussed.
[2] Modular DNA Origami Compartments for the Engineering of a Protein Unfolding and Degradation Pathway
Prof. Barbara Saccà, Dept. of Bionanotechnology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen (Germany)
Within the cell, chemical reactions are often confined and organized through a modular architecture. This facilitates the targeted localization of molecular species and their efficient translocation to subsequent sites. Here, we present a cell-free nanoscale model that exploits this compartmentalization principle to carry out regulated protein unfolding and degradation. Our model is composed of two connected DNA origami nanocompartments, one containing the protein unfolding machine, p97, and the other housing the protease chymotrypsin. We achieve the unidirectional immobilization of p97 within the first compartment, establishing a ‘gateway’ mechanism that controls substrate recruitment, translocation, and processing within the second compartment. Our data show that, whereas spatial confinement increases the rate of the individual reactions, physical connection of the compartmentalized enzymes into a chimera further improves their performance and minimizes off-target proteolysis. We anticipate that our modular approach may serve as a blueprint for engineering artificial nanofactories with reshaped catalytic performance and functionalities even beyond those observed in natural systems.
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