Perspective abstract
Nature Chemical Biology 3, 23 - 28 (2007)
Published online: 15 December 2006 | doi:10.1038/nchembio846
Synthetic RNA circuits
Eric A Davidson1 & Andrew D Ellington1
Abstract
Natural and engineered RNA 'parts' can perform a variety of functions, including hybridizing to targets, binding ligands and undergoing programmed conformational changes, and catalyzing reactions. These RNA parts can in turn be assembled into synthetic genetic circuits that regulate gene expression by acting either in cis or in trans on mRNAs. As more parts are discovered and engineered, it should be increasingly possible to create synthetic RNA circuits that are able to carry out complex logical operations in cells, either superimposed on or autonomous to extant gene regulation.
- Eric A. Davidson and Andrew D. Ellington are in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, 1 University Station/A4800, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
Correspondence to: e-mail: andy.ellington@mail.utexas.edu
