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Rutgers Scientists Develop RNA-Based Biosensor for Human Health Monitoring
Researchers at Rutgers University-New Brunswick have successfully repurposed RNA, a vital biological molecule found in all living organisms, into a sophisticated biosensor capable of detecting minute quantities of chemicals linked to human health.
This groundbreaking research focuses on RNA, a nucleic acid integral to various cellular functions. The implications of this work are significant, with potential uses in environmental monitoring and the early diagnosis of critical health conditions, including neurological disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer.
Transforming Cells into Sensors
“Imagine a scenario where individuals visit hospitals and provide cell samples for routine health assessments,” explained Enver Cagri Izgu, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and lead author of the study. “Through advanced technology, we could convert these cells into sensor cells without altering their natural state. Once returned to the patient’s body, these cells would remain accepted by the immune system and possess the ability to communicate signals regarding the presence of harmful chemicals or early signs of disease.”
In an article published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Izgu and his team detailed their innovative approach to incorporating RNA into bacterial cells, enabling these cells and their progeny to identify specific chemical compounds. These compounds can include transient inorganic substances essential to various physiological processes, playing roles in both healthy and diseased states. Traditionally, RNA would lack the capability to interact with these chemicals, making their detection via complex genetic circuits extremely difficult.
Pioneering RNA Functions
Researchers are delving into RNA’s multifaceted roles to harness its potential for enhancing human health. Notably, a unique function of RNA, revealed in 2011, is its ability to bind to small molecules and generate light. This foundational research inspired Izgu and his team to advance the concept of RNA-mediated light generation further.
“By applying our chemistry expertise, we converted RNA into a detector for critical short-lived inorganic chemicals like hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen peroxide,” Izgu reported. “The process begins when the target inorganic chemical interacts with a small receptor molecule, which subsequently binds to a specific RNA sequence. This binding causes the RNA to emit light at a designated wavelength. We successfully implemented this sensing mechanism in living Escherichia coli bacteria as a model,” he added.
Detecting Chemicals in Disease States
This innovative approach is particularly significant because, while RNA can be synthetically produced, adapting it to detect specific chemicals like hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen peroxide has proven challenging.
During various critical stages of diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular or neurological disorders, human cells exhibit altered levels of hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen peroxide. Under laboratory conditions, Izgu and his team demonstrated their ability to identify these chemicals using their engineered E. coli sensors.
Izgu mentioned that the ultimate aim of the Rutgers research team is to evolve human cells into sensor cells in a way analogous to how they have successfully enabled E. coli to detect chemical traces.
Alongside Izgu, Tushar Aggarwal, a former PhD student, is listed as a co-inventor on a patent application filed by Rutgers University related to this research. Additional contributions came from fellow doctoral students Liming Wang, Sarah Cho, and former student Bryan Gutierrez, as well as Huseyin Erguven, a past postdoctoral associate now with Paraza Pharma Inc. in Montreal, and Hakan Guven, a student at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
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