Hsieh Ping-Yao, Monsur Ali M, Tram Kha, Jahanshahi-Anbuhi Sana, Brown Christine L, Brennan John D, Filipe Carlos D M, Li Yingfu
Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.
Biointerfaces Institute, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.
Chembiochem. 2017 Mar 16;18(6):502-505. doi: 10.1002/cbic.201600643. Epub 2017 Feb 8.
RNA is a functionally versatile polymer but suffers from susceptibility to spontaneous and RNase-catalyzed degradation. This vulnerability makes it difficult to preserve RNA for extended periods of time, thus limiting its use in various contexts, including practical applications as functional nucleic acids. Here we present a simple method to preserve RNA by pullulan (a complex sugar produced by Aureobasidium pullulans fungus) film formation. This strategy can markedly suppress both spontaneous and RNase degradation. Importantly, the pullulan film readily dissolves in aqueous solution, thus allowing retrieval of fully functional RNA species. In order to illustrate the advantage of this protective method in a practical application, we engineered a simple paper sensor containing a bacteria-detecting RNA-cleaving DNAzyme. This detection capability of the device was unchanged after storage at room temperature for six months.
RNA是一种功能多样的聚合物，但容易受到自发降解和核糖核酸酶催化降解的影响。这种脆弱性使得长时间保存RNA变得困难，从而限制了它在各种情况下的使用，包括作为功能性核酸的实际应用。在此，我们提出一种通过形成普鲁兰多糖（一种由出芽短梗霉真菌产生的复合糖）薄膜来保存RNA的简单方法。这种策略可以显著抑制自发降解和核糖核酸酶降解。重要的是，普鲁兰多糖薄膜很容易溶解于水溶液中，从而可以回收功能完全正常的RNA种类。为了说明这种保护方法在实际应用中的优势，我们设计了一种简单的纸质传感器，其中包含一种可检测细菌的RNA切割脱氧核酶。该装置在室温下储存六个月后，其检测能力没有变化。
