CMCB Life Sciences Seminar: Prof. Nicolas Winssinger, University of Geneva, Switzerland

Host: Yixin Zhang (B CUBE)

Title: "Using molecular assembly to program responsive biochemical systems"

Abstract: Life is orchestrated by biomolecules interacting in complex networks of biological circuitry with emerging function. Progress in different areas of chemistry has made the design of systems that can recapitulate elements of such circuitry possible. At the circuitry level, the programmable nature of nucleic acid hybridization provides a powerful platform to design dynamic systems that can respond and integrate diverse logic gates. In order to interface with diverse biomolecular inputs (e.g. cell surface receptors or therapeutic target) and yield outputs other than oligonucleotide sequences (e.g. drugs or fluorophores for sensing) it is desirable to engineer nucleic acid conjugate that can translate assemblies into output through proximity enhanced reactions.  Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNA) are endowed with attractive properties for this endeavor as they are more robust and form more stable duplex than their natural counter parts. Several applications from our laboratory to encode and program self-assemblies of small molecules, template chemical reactions and respond to biomarkers will be presented.