Nucleic Acid (RNA and DNA) Structural Analysis with MMS

Why RNA and DNA Analysis Matters in Therapeutics

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) are the protein expression blueprints for all mammalian cells. Although vibrational spectroscopy has long been used in the structural analysis of DNA, the field has only recently expanded to address ribonucleic acid (RNA). This is both fortuitous and a natural reflection of our current era as RNA, specifically mRNA, is the active component of multiple Covid-19 vaccines. Additionally, DNA is used in targeted gene therapies in conjunction with adeno-associated viruses (AAVs).  

Challenges in Nucleic Acid Structural Characterization

As these biomolecules possess their own secondary structural characteristics and are perturbed by temperature, formulation, and pH, there continues to be a need for tools that can detect potential structural changes associated with these conditions.  IR spectroscopy has been a traditional tool in the gene therapist analytical arsenal.  The intrinsic IR spectra of RNA has been shown to be distinct from its DNA counterpart.  In fact, differentiating an unfolded RNA population from folded RNA is achievable. Additionally, varying lengths and sequences of RNA show measurable differences in intrinsic IR absorbance and wavelength profiles.