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Research Programmes

Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology

Nucleic acid chemistry

reritja

Ramon Eritja

Principal Investigator
Professor (IBMB-CSIC)

Office Tel : +34 93 400 61 45 // +34 93 403 99 41
Lab Tel : +34 93 403 99 42
e-mail : ramon.eritjairbbarcelona.org

Background

Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), which are formed by long chains of nucleotides, play a crucial role in genetic inheritance. Oligonucleotides (small versions of nucleic acids) have been synthesized in laboratories since the 1980s. The field of nucleic acid chemistry has since undergone remarkable progress, which has been vital for the development of several disciplines such as biochemistry, molecular biology, structural biology, biotechnology, biomedicine and, in more recent years, nanoscience.

Research Interests

To synthesize oligonucleotides and nucleic acid derivatives in order to study their properties, and also to further develop and improve techniques involving oligonucleotides.

Research Lines

Two major research lines are underway:

1) Synthesis of modified oligonucleotides to be used in the fabrication of molecular circuits based on DNA.

Since the fabrication of the first chips in the 1950s, the density of the functional units per surface unit has duplicated every 3-4 years. This advance has been achieved thanks to technological breakthroughs that have allowed circuit miniaturization. However, currently available technologies based on photolithography are reaching their physical limits. Thus, it is believed that in the near future parts of the circuits will be prepared using biomolecules, which will arrange the nanomaterials in solution while the resulting structures will be positioned in the spaces produced by photolithography. One of the promising biomolecules for this approach is DNA. In this regard, we have developed a methodology to synthesize modified oligonucleotides, which are then used to assemble nanomaterials. The most important result from this research is the selective metallization, with gold nanoparticles, of a linear DNA structure formed by synthetic oligonucleotides (Ongaro, et al. (2004) Adv. Mat., 16, 1799). We are now increasing the complexity of the system by preparing new oligonucleotide derivatives. For the functionalization of nanomaterial surfaces, we are also preparing oligonucleotides by means of molecules that have electronic properties of interest and also through the use of reactive groups.

2) Synthesis of oligonucleotides carrying 8-aminopurines and study of the stabilization properties of triple helices.

The capacity of several synthetic oligonucleotides to inhibit gene expression has generated great interest in the scientific community. This capacity makes these molecules potential therapeutic drugs for the treatment of viral infections and cancer (antisense therapy). On the basis of using triple formation, we are currently working on the development of new oligonucleotide derivatives that inhibit gene expression. We have demonstrated that the presence of 8-aminopurines stabilize triple helices. We aim to use these stabilizing properties to obtain oligonucleotides with more potent inhibitory activity. To date we have demonstrated that hairpin affinity is so high that the oligonucleotides can bind target sequences with secondary structures, thereby competing successfully with these and yielding the expected triplex.

Funding

This group receives financial support from the following sources:

  • Fundació "la Caixa" ("la Caixa"  Foundation)
  • European Commission
  • Generalitat de Catalunya (Government of Catalonia)
  • Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (Spanish Ministry of Science and Education)
More info

Scientific publications search

Scientific publications search


Research Directory

Core facilities and Services Directory

  • Generalitat de catalunya
  • Generalitat de catalunya. Salut
  • Universidad de Barcelona
  • Parc cientific

Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona)
Parc Científic de Barcelona
C/ Baldiri Reixac 10-12
08028 Barcelona - Spain
Tel: (+34)93 403 7111 | Fax: +34 93 403 7114
infoarrobairbbarcelona.org