Protein‐Encoding Free‐Standing RNA Hydrogel for Sub‐Compartmentalized Translation
So Yeon Ahn, Jeonghun Kim, Srivithya Vellampatti, Sung Yong Oh, Yong Taik Lim, Sung Ha Park, Dan Luo, Junho Chung, Soong Ho Um
Abstract
RNA can self-fold into complex structures that can serve as major biological regulators in protein synthesis and in catalysis. Due to the abundance of structural primitives and functional diversity, RNA has been utilized for designing nature-defined goals despite its intrinsic chemical instability and lack of technologies. Here, a robust, free-standing RNA hydrogel is developed through a sequential process involving both ligation and rolling circle transcription to form RNA G-quadruplexes, capable of both catalytic activity and enhancing expression of several proteins in sub-compartmentalized, phase-separated translation environments. The observations suggest that this hydrogel will expand RNA research and impact practical RNA principles and applications.