Virtual participation: Zoom details available here
Speaker: Dr Cody Geary, Heidelberg University
Title: "Origami for the Cell: Engineering RNA That Builds Itself"
Abstract: Living cells naturally assemble exquisitely detailed RNA nanostructures through cotranscriptional folding, a dynamic process where RNA folds into functional shapes as it is being transcribed. This biological “assembly line” enables the continuous production of intricate RNA architectures. Inspired by the efficiency of natural systems, RNA origami is an emerging approach to designing synthetic RNAs that fold cotranscriptionally into predefined nanostructures. Our design platform, ROAD (RNA Origami Automated Design), plays a central role in these developments by automating sequence design and model building, analyzing folding pathways, and optimizing sequences for efficient cotranscriptional folding. ROAD has enabled the creation and validation of dozens of distinct RNA nanostructures, characterized by techniques such as AFM and cryo-EM.
In this short talk, I will introduce the basics of RNA origami design, and present some recent advances including the integration of chemically modified nucleotides such as 2′-fluoro-pyrimidines to enhance stability and biocompatibility. Chemical modifications open up new possibilities for developing RNA-based nanodevices with improved performance in biological environments and other environments that would rapidly degrade RNA. These combined advances in sequence design, structural control, and chemical stability represent a major step toward functional, programmable RNA nanostructures for applications in synthetic biology, molecular sensing, and targeted therapeutics.
Biography: Cody Geary's work sits at the intersection of computational chemistry, biochemistry, synthetic biology, nanoscale engineering and computer science. Cody received his BS in Chemistry at Caltech 2003, followed by a PhD in Chemistry and Biochemistry from the University of California (UC) Santa Barbara in 2010 where he worked on RNA structure. During postdocs at Caltech and Aarhus University he developed novel computational and biochemistry methods to engineer large RNA structures, including co-transcriptionally folded RNA structures. He currently works on new ways to control RNA self-assembly and build cell-like systems based on RNA at the Heidelberg University in the Biophysical Engineering of Life Lab. He has also worked with computer science theorists on developing models of computation for folding RNA structures.