Researchers Receive NSF Grant to Study DNA Origami Tools to Function in Live Cells
A team of researchers led by faculty from Ohio State were recently awarded a $2 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) program for their work with DNA origami tools. The project titled “DNA origami tools to engineer chromatin structure and function in live cells” is directed by mechanical and aerospace engineering professor Carlos Castro, and physics professor Michael Poirier.
“This project is developing DNA origami-based nanodevices that target a specific gene within the cell’s genome,” said Poirier.
The grant is focused on developing DNA devices as tools to control cellular function inside live cell nuclei.
“In particular, we are developing devices that can target specific genes, turn on gene expression, and detect the RNA that is expressed,” said Castro. “We also plan to engineer these devices so the activation can be externally triggered, for example with a light input.”
The design of these devices will allow them to interact with genes, turning them on or off, nearly in real-time. They will also be able to monitor the activity of the gene. Poirier said that the tools that are being develop will provide insights into how intracellular uptake depends on various properties of DNA based nanodevices. The devices can also be applied in therapeutic measures, for example by delivering large RNA-protein complexes or inorganic particles.
