Projects
Artificial genetic systems with stereocontrolled sugar-phosphate backbone: towards advanced therapy and synthetic biology. KU Leuven
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) are among the most remarkable biomolecules since they provide the molecular basis for all life through their unique ability to store and propagate genetic information. In this information system, the genetic alphabet is formed by 4 nucleobases, each appended to a sugar moiety. Phosphodiester linkages connect successive sugars in strands of variable lengths. Natural DNA and RNA are quickly ...
Furan-based Artificial DNA Anchoring Systems Ghent University
The project will be focussed on the realization of peptide nucleic acid (PNA) derivatives containing a furan mojety as a pro-reactive group for DNA-crosslinking.
During the project different modifications of the standard PNA backbone and/or nucleobases will be taken into account.
The final aim of the project is the realization of a diagnostic platform, based on this systems.
Bottom-up reconstruction of cytoskeleton-stabilized artificial cells. KU Leuven
At its most basic levels, life consists of the encoding of information, the catalysis of reactions, the compartmentalization of its parts and the ability to self-reproduce. Many research efforts are being devoted to develop artificial cells capable of these basic functions. Despite some key achievements in all these areas, much remains yet to be accomplished. Therefore, even the partial reproduction of some of these basic features will have a ...
Structure and folding of XNA aptamers studied by computational and experimental methods KU Leuven
Aptamers are folded oligonucleotides that bind to a specific target with a high affinity and selectivity. Originally they were composed of natural nucleic acids (RNA or DNA) that are identified in a large library through a process termed Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment (SELEX). Since natural nucleic acids have short half-life in biological conditions, research shifted to aptamers composed of artificial (xeno) nucleic ...
Metabole Aptazymes: isolating of binders / catalysts KU Leuven
Deoxyribose nucleic acids (DNA) and ribose nucleic acids (RNA) play an important role inside the cell as carriers of the genetic information. By chemically modifying nucleic acids, these molecules could be transformed into efficient binders or catalysts (named aptamers or aptazymes) that could be used as therapeutics, diagnostics or for environmental or agricultural purposes. Artificial nucleic acids have been developed with binding or ...
Xeno-nucleic acid polymerases by directed evolution. KU Leuven
Artificial or xeno nucleic acids (XNAs) present an alternative to natural genetic polymers by expanding chemical diversity and improving chemical and biological stability, with potential applications in, for example, therapeutics. XNA differs from its natural counterparts by modifications applied to the nucleobases, sugar-phosphate backbone, nucleotide leaving group, or a combination of these. In the long run, XNA could form the basis of an ...
Redesigning DNA biosynthesis: leaving group-modified nucleotides as a biosafety tool. KU Leuven
Artificial nucleic acids (XNA’s) are capable of storing and processing genetic information just like the natural nucleic acids DNA and RNA and can thus function as suitable genetic materials as well. Natural nucleic acid biosynthesis is catalyzed by polymerases and involves the sequential condensation of (deoxy)nucleoside triphosphate ((d)NTP) building blocks with concomitant release of pyrophosphate (PPi). Besides information storage and ...
Heterologous Expression of Calvin Cycle Enzymes in S. cerevisiae for Hemi-Autotrophic Growth and Bioethanol Production in a Novel Yeast-Driven Bionic Leaf KU Leuven
The Bionic Leaf is a hybrid inorganic-biological system that uses the bacterium C. necator and catalysts from the artificial leaf to drive a photosynthetic process for carbon fixation into biomass and liquid fuels. Bacteria such as C. necator are, however, limited in their capabilities to produce industrially relevant levels of fuel. The Bionic Leaf stands to be greatly improved if adapted to exploit yeast fermentation in S. cerevisiae. Two ...
Evolve HNA aptamers by Cell-SELEX as molecular tools for cancer study. KU Leuven
Aptamers are single-stranded DNA and RNA molecules. They can bind to diverse molecular targets with high affinity and specificity by folding unique three dimensional structures. Therefore, aptamers are useful tools for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. However, aptamers made of DNA and RNA are endowed with low biostability and poor pharmacodynamices, limiting their use for clinical development. In this study, we propose to develop a ...