Harnessing Small Molecules to Probe the Structure and Function of Regulatory RNAs

项目总结 尽管最近对RNA靶向的兴趣激增，但目前治疗潜力受到缺乏 基本了解如何实现选择性和功能性的小分子靶向。最重要的是 我们的研究计划的重点是阐明小分子选择性的关键驱动因素：RNA识别和 应用这些原则促进以RNA为靶标的化学探针和疗法的开发 调节RNA功能。首先，我们确定了生物的物理化学、结构和空间属性 有别于蛋白质靶向配体的活性RNA配体。RNA结合的综合阐述 将支架放入富含这些特性的文库中可以改善对疾病相关RNA的识别， 包括病毒和长的非编码RNA结构。我们使用模式识别协议来识别RNA 可以被小分子区别识别的拓扑结构，并详细阐述了这项技术 形象化构象变化。这一结合的工作已经取得了显著的成功，例如 肠道病毒71RNA，其中我们的配体诱导了戏剧性的构象变化，增加了与 抑制人类蛋白质，减少病毒翻译，并抑制病毒复制。我们的方法也是 显示出对抗SARS-CoV2调控RNA的初步成功。 在这些成就的基础上，我们建议开发新的库和筛选方法来了解 对一系列更复杂的三元和四元结构的功能选择性。洞察最多 关键驱动因素将通过模式识别/机器学习分析以及 一种基于集合的定量构效关系方法，将允许任何RNA的合理靶向。生物学的关键决定因素 选择性将在高通量的基于细胞的分析中揭示。这些发现将得到进一步的加强 阐明致癌长非编码RNA的结构-动力学-功能关系。 我们的工具降低了发现选择性RNA配体的门槛。拟议中的工作将最终打开一个 RNA靶向的新领域，化学和生物科学家将容易和有效地筛选 小分子探针针对广泛的RNA分子，包括那些与人类疾病相关的分子。是这样的 这些能力将使RNA的治疗潜力得到充分开发，并从本质上改变我们的 对分子生物学的理解。

PROJECT SUMMARY Despite the recent explosion of interest in RNA targeting, therapeutic potential is presently limited by a lack of fundamental understanding of how to achieve selective and functional small molecule targeting. The overarching focus of our research program is to elucidate the key drivers of selectivity in small molecule:RNA recognition and to apply these principles to facilitate development of RNA-targeted chemical probes and therapeutics that modulate RNA function. To begin, we identified physicochemical, structural, and spatial properties of biologically active RNA ligands that are distinct from those of protein-targeted ligands. Synthetic elaboration of RNA binding scaffolds into a library enriched with these properties has led to improved recognition of disease relevant RNA, including viral and long noncoding RNA structures. We used pattern recognition protocols to identify RNA topologies that can be differentially recognized by small molecules and have elaborated this technique to visualize conformational changes. This combined work has led to remarkable successes such as the targeting of enterovirus 71 RNA, where our ligand induced a dramatic conformation change that increased binding of a repressive human protein, decreased viral translation, and inhibited viral replication. Our approach is also showing preliminary success against SARS-CoV2 regulatory RNA. Building off these accomplishments, we propose to develop new libraries and screening methods to understand functional selectivity against a range of more complex tertiary and quaternary structures. Insights into the most critical driving factors will be revealed through pattern recognition / machine learning analysis as well as through an ensemble-based QSAR method that will allow rational targeting of any RNA. Key determinants of biological selectivity will be revealed in high throughput cell-based assays. These discoveries will be further enhanced by elucidation of the structure-dynamics-function relationships of oncogenic long noncoding RNAs. Our tools have lowered barriers to the discovery of selective RNA ligands. The proposed work will finally open a new horizon in RNA-targeting, in which chemical and biological scientists will readily and productively screen for small molecule probes against a wide range of RNA molecules, including those relevant to human disease. Such capabilities will allow the therapeutic potential of RNA to be fully exploited and inherently transform our understanding of molecular biology.