Team:Hong Kong HKU
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Since last decade, microRNAs have been identified as promising biomarkers for specific diseases, one common type is cancer. miRNA, usually of around 22 nucleotides long, are made inside our body via complex mechanisms. They play important roles in gene regulation through several ways, such as binding with messenger-RNA (mRNA) to inhibit translation and speeding up mRNA degradation to cause gene silencing. Dysregulation of miRNA expression may lead to under- or over-expression of genes and hence diseases.
DNA has emerged as a promising material for the creation of novel functional nanostructures. Here we present DNA nanostructures capable of simultaneous detection of multiple microRNA (miRNA) targets which are identified as promising disease biomarkers. Logic gates can be easily incorporated into our designs to test various combinations of miRNA targets. G-quadruplexes form when the specified target hybridizes with the probe, generating fluorescence in the presence of substrate. We endeavor to demonstrate intracellular synthesis, self-assembly and functioning of our nanostructures inside E. coli. Our constructs open up new possibilities in future research on DNA nanotechnologies as diagnostic tools, and promote the applications of miRNA testing in clinical conditions.
