Engineering and evolution of membrane-selectivity with RNA nanostructures (B10)

• Subject Area: Biophysics
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 521256690

This project seeks to address the question whether RNA-lipid interactions could have given rise to sequence-specific selectivity in protocellular membranes by engineering pore-forming RNA structures and enhancing their selectivity for ions and nucleic acids by directed evolution. In particular, we will use co-transcriptional folding of RNA origami to produce RNA structures with a pore cavity and anchor them in liposomes with known membrane-binding RNA aptamers. To achieve selectivity, we will establish a “liposome display” technique as a new strategy for molecular evolution relevant for the CRC community.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 392: Molecular evolution in prebiotic environments
• Applicant Institution: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Kerstin Göpfrich, since 1/2024