Paper Highlights

A quantitative model of enzyme-free copying of RNA with dimers

L. Burger, F. Welsch, E. Kervio, M. Henker, G. Leveau, U. Gerland, C. Richert

Nucleic Acids Res. 2025, 53, gkaf987.
https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkaf987

Seeing all relevant molecular processes involved in extending a template-bound RNA strand by 12 bases in one run, starting from unactivated dinucleotides in dilute aqueous buffer in the cold.

Quality Control of mRNA Vaccines by Synthetic Ribonucleases: Analysis of the Poly-A-Tail

Felix Zellmann, Nina Schmauk, Nina Murmann, Madeleine Böhm, Alexander Schwenger, Michael Göbel

ChemBioChem 2024, 25, e202400347 
https://doi.org/10.1002/cbic.202400347 (open access)

Oligonucleotide conjugates of tris(2-aminobenzimidazoles), known as potent and sequence-specific RNA cleavers, are applied as analytical tools to check the poly-A tail and the 5’ terminus of mRNA vaccines. 

Ribosome-free translation up to pentapeptides via template walkon RNA sequences

Sabrina G. Reußwig, Clemens Richert

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, e202410317
https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202410317

What was first demonstrated as single-nucleotide translation has now been expanded up to pentapeptides.

Solid-Phase-Supported Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of a Light-Activatable tRNA Derivative

Anja Blümler, Harald Schwalbe, Alexander Heckel

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.
https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202111613

Here, we present a multi-cycle chemoenzymatic synthesis of modified RNA with simplified solid-phase handling to overcome size limitations of RNA synthesis. It combines the advantages of classical chemical solid-phase synthesis and enzymatic synthesis methods using magnetic streptavidin beads and biotinylated RNA. Successful introduction of light-controllable RNA nucleotides into the tRNAMet sequence was confirmed by gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. The methods tolerate modifications in the RNA phosphodiester backbone and allow introductions of photocaged and photoswitchable nucleotides as well as photocleavable strand breaks and fluorophores.

Controlling Coagulation in Blood with Red Light

Patricia Müller, Marlen Sahlbach, Simone Gasper, Prof. Dr. Günter Mayer, Priv.-Doz. Dr. Jens Müller, Prof. Dr. Bernd Pötzsch, Prof. Dr. Alexander Heckel

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2021, 60, 22441.
https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202108468 (open access)

An engineered aptamer with a Cy7-based photocleavable linker can be used as anticoagulant. With tissue-penetrating red light, the aptamer is cleaved, and blood clotting is restored in human whole blood.

Thoughts on What Chemists Can Contribute to Fighting SARS-CoV-2 - A Short Note on Hand Sanitizers, Drug Candidates and Outreach

Till Opatz, Joerg Senn-Bilfinger, Clemens Richert

Angew. Chem. 2020, 132, doi/10.1002/ange.202004721
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ange.202004721
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.202004721

A three-pronged approach for chemists to contribute to fighting the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak is proposed.