Reversible 2'-OH acylation enhances RNA stability.

ABSTRACT: The presence of a hydroxyl group at the 2'-position in its ribose makes RNA susceptible to hydrolysis. Stabilization of RNAs for storage, transport and biological application thus remains a serious challenge, particularly for larger RNAs that are not accessible by chemical synthesis. Here we present reversible 2'-OH acylation as a general strategy to preserve RNA of any length or origin. High-yield polyacylation of 2'-hydroxyls ('cloaking') by readily accessible acylimidazole reagents effectively shields RNAs from both thermal and enzymatic degradation. Subsequent treatment with water-soluble nucleophilic reagents removes acylation adducts quantitatively ('uncloaking') and recovers a remarkably broad range of RNA functions, including reverse transcription, translation and gene editing. Fur

SUBMITTER: Fang L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12829982 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature