Advanced computational modeling techniques to enable fast screening of RNA biopharmaceutical products
Material Measurement Laboratory, Biomolecular Measurement Division
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There has been a recent emergence of RNA biotherapeutics; that is, small RNAs used as drug therapies. Chemical modifications to RNA have been implemented to increase efficacy of nucleic acid delivery. These modifications effect degradation resistance and render them unrecognizable to the immune system. However, not much is known about how these chemical modifications affect structure-function relationships. We propose to develop robust computational modeling in conjunction with experimental NMR and SAXS measurements to understand the consequences of chemical modification on structural durability of short RNA oligomers, which function as RNA aptamer drugs.