RSC Chemical Biology Blog

We’re pleased to announce that a new themed collection from RSC Chemical Biology has now been published online.

Read the Collection

Guest-edited by Dennis Bong (Ohio State University), Philipp Holliger (MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology), and Chaoyong Yang (Xiamen University), this themed collection covers all aspects of modified nucleic acids in chemical and synthetic biology including both in vitro as well as in vivo applications, and new chemistries. Taken together, the papers collected in this themed collection represent the state of the art on XNAs and highlights work at the interface of chemistry and biology.

A selection of the articles has been provided below. All articles in RSC Chemical Biology are open access and free to read.

Editorial

Introduction to the themed collection on XNA xenonucleic acids
Dennis Bong, Philipp Holliger and Chaoyong Yang
RSC. Chem. Biol., 2022, 3, DOI: 10.1039/D2CB90036J

Reviews

From polymerase engineering to semi-synthetic life: artificial expansion of the central dogma
Leping Sun, Xingyun Ma, Binliang Zhang, Yanjia Qin, Jiezhao Ma, Yuhui Du and Tingjian Chen
RSC Chem. Biol., 2022, 3, 1173-1197, DOI: 10.1039/D2CB00116K

Perspectives on conformationally constrained peptide nucleic acid (PNA): insights into the structural design, properties and applications
Chaturong Suparpprom and Tirayut Vilaivan
RSC Chem. Biol., 2022, 3, 648-697, DOI: 10.1039/D2CB00017B

Communications

Efficient synthesis and replication of diverse sequence libraries composed of biostable nucleic acid analogues
John R. D. Hervey, Niklas Freund, Gillian Houlihan, Gurpreet Dhaliwal, Philipp Holliger and Alexander I. Taylor
RSC Chem. Biol., 2022, 3, 1209-1215, DOI: 10.1039/D2CB00035K

Dependence of click-SELEX performance on the nature and average number of modified nucleotides
Julia Siegl, Olga Plückthun and Günter Mayer
RSC Chem. Biol., 2022, 3, 288-294, DOI: 10.1039/D2CB00012A

Papers

Synthesis and structure–activity relationship of peptide nucleic acid probes with improved interstrand-crosslinking abilities: application to biotin-mediated RNA-pulldown
Enrico Cadoni, Francesca Pennati, Penthip Muangkaew, Joke Elskens, Annemieke Madder and Alex Manicardi
RSC Chem. Biol., 2022, 3, 1129-1143, DOI: 10.1039/D2CB00095D

Stimuli-responsive assembly of bilingual peptide nucleic acids
Hector S. Argueta-Gonzalez, Colin S. Swenson, George Song and Jennifer M. Heemstra
RSC Chem. Biol., 2022, 3, 1035-1043, DOI: 10.1039/D2CB00020B

Mutant polymerases capable of 2′ fluoro-modified nucleic acid synthesis and amplification with improved accuracy
Trevor A. Christensen, Kristi Y. Lee, Simone Z. P. Gottlieb, Mikayla B. Carrier and Aaron M. Leconte
RSC Chem. Biol., 2022, 3, 1044-1051, DOI: 10.1039/D2CB00064D

Covalently attached intercalators restore duplex stability and splice-switching activity to triazole-modified oligonucleotides
Anna Dysko, Ysobel R. Baker, Graham McClorey, Matthew J. A. Wood, Sabine Fenner, Glynn Williams, Afaf El-Sagheer and Tom Brown
RSC Chem. Biol., 2022, 3, 765-772, DOI: 10.1039/D2CB00100D

Conjugation of oligonucleotides with activated carbamate reagents prepared by the Ugi reaction for oligonucleotide library synthesis
Ryosuke Kita, Takashi Osawa and Satoshi Obika
RSC Chem. Biol., 2022, 3, 728-738, DOI: 10.1039/D1CB00240F

A ruthenium–oligonucleotide bioconjugated photosensitizing aptamer for cancer cell specific photodynamic therapy
Luke K. McKenzie, Marie Flamme, Patrick S. Felder, Johannes Karges, Frederic Bonhomme, Albert Gandioso, Christian Malosse, Gilles Gasser and Marcel Hollenstein
RSC Chem. Biol., 2022, 3, 85-95, DOI: 10.1039/D1CB00146A

Targeting a conserved structural element from the SARS-CoV-2 genome using L-DNA aptamers
Jing Li and Jonathan T. Sczepanski
RSC Chem. Biol., 2022, 3, 79-84, DOI: 10.1039/D1CB00172H

 

We hope you enjoy this new themed collection from RSC Chemical Biology.

We’re pleased to announce that our first Emerging Investigators collection has now been published online!

Read the collection

RSC Chemical Biology is committed to supporting and recognizing the excellent work of early career researchers. We are thus proud to present our first annual Emerging Investigators collection. The collection showcases research carried out by internationally recognised, up-and-coming scientists in the early stage of their independent careers who are making outstanding contributions to their respective fields. Each contributor was recommended by an expert in their field for carrying out work with the potential to influence future directions. The collection encompasses the entire scope of the journal.

Looking forward, we will soon be inviting for an Emerging Investigators Collection that will be published in 2023, and you are encouraged to recommend a colleague at the beginning of their career by contacting the Editorial Office. To be considered, a scientist must be a research group leader with less than 10 years of independent research (although the timescale is flexible in cases of career breaks and personal circumstances).

Congratulations to all the featured researchers on their work. Join us in celebrating their contributions!

Editorial

RSC Chemical Biology Emerging Investigators Collection and Outstanding Paper Award 
RSC. Chem. Biol., 2022, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/D2CB90027K

Profile

Contributors to the RSC Chemical Biology Emerging Investigators Collection 2022 
RSC. Chem. Biol., 2022, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/D2CB90028A

Communications

The CSY-protecting group in the microwave-assisted synthesis of aggregation-prone peptides 
Truc Lam Pham, Jennifer Zilke, Christine Charlotte Müller and Franziska Thomas
RSC. Chem. Biol., 2022, 3, 426–430, DOI: 10.1039/D1CB00252J

A light-initiated chemical reporter strategy for spatiotemporal labeling of biomolecules 
Feifei Wang, Hao Kong, Xiangfeng Meng, Xiao Tian, Changjiang Wang, Lei Xu, Xiang Zhang, Lei Wang and Ran Xie
RSC. Chem. Biol., 2022, 3, 539–545, DOI: 10.1039/D2CB00072E

A dual-responsive doxorubicin–indoximod conjugate for programmed chemoimmunotherapy 
Zhaoxuan Yang, Jiaqi Huang, Yaying Lin, Xiangjie Luo, Haojin Lin, Hongyu Lin and Jinhao Gao
RSC. Chem. Biol., 2022, 3, 853–858, DOI: 10.1039/D1CB00257K

Fluorescent metabolic labeling-based quick antibiotic susceptibility test for anaerobic bacteria
Juan Gao, Juanxiu Qin, Chenling Ding, Yuan Gao, Junnan Guo, Min Li, Chaoyong Yang and Wei Wang
RSC Chem. Biol., 2022, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/D2CB00163B

Papers

Proteomic characterization of phagocytic primary human monocyte-derived macrophages
Regan F. Volk, José L. Montaño, Sara E. Warrington, Katherine L. Hofmann and Balyn W. Zaro
RSC. Chem. Biol., 2022, 3, 783–793, DOI: 10.1039/D2CB00076H

Improved ClickTags enable live-cell barcoding for highly multiplexed single cell sequencing
Xinlu Zhao, Shiming Sun, Wenhao Yu, Wenqi Zhu, Zihan Zhao, Yiqi Zhou, Xiuheng Ding, Nan Fang, Rong Yang and Jie P. Li
RSC. Chem. Biol., 2022, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/D2CB00046F

Structural insights into inhibition of the drug target dihydroorotate dehydrogenase by bacterial hydroxyalkylquinolines 
Samantha M. Horwitz, Tamra C. Blue, Joseph A. Ambarian, Shotaro Hoshino, Mohammad R. Seyedsayamdost and Katherine M. Davis
RSC. Chem. Biol., 2022, 3, 420–425, DOI: 10.1039/D1CB00255D

One-step asparaginyl endopeptidase (OaAEP1)-based protein immobilization for single-molecule force spectroscopy
Xuan Ding, Ziyi Wang, Bin Zheng, Shengchao Shi, Yibing Deng, Hanyang Yu and Peng Zheng
RSC Chem. Biol., 2022, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/D2CB00135G

The RSC Chemical Biology “Editor’s choice” article collection

The ‘Editor’s choice’ collection for RSC Chemical Biology celebrates the very best work published in the journal to date, including regularly added articles personally chosen by our world-renowned Editorial Board, as well as those highlighted as “HOT” during the peer review process.

 

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November

This month, Associate Editor Gonçalo Bernardes is highlighting two exciting papers involving antibodies. Professor Bernardes’s choices are detailed below. Access the full collection for free.

Communication

Leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein 1 (LRG1) as a novel ADC target
Faiza Javaid, Camilla Pilotti, Carlotta Camilli, David Kallenberg, Calise Bahou, Jack Blackburn, James R. Baker, John Greenwood, Stephen E. Moss and Vijay Chudasama
RSC Chem. Biol., 2021, 2, 1206-1220
DOI: 10.1039/D1CB00104C

 

Paper

Finding and characterizing a catalytic antibody light chain, H34, capable of degrading the PD-1 molecule
Emi Hifumi, Hiroaki Taguchi, Tamami Nonaka, Takunori Harada and Taizo Uda
RSC Chem. Biol., 2021, 2, 220-229
DOI: 10.1039/D0CB00155D

 

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October

After a summer break we were back with Associate Editor Andrea Rentmeister selecting two fantastic articles to highlight. Professor Rentmeister’s choices are detailed below. Access the full collection for free.

Review

Cell-free riboswitches
Takeshi Tabuchi and Yohei Yokobayashi
RSC Chem. Biol., 2021, 2, 1430-1440
DOI: 10.1039/D1CB00138H

Professor Rentmeister, “Cell-free systems with the ability to carry out complex functions are an important aspect of synthetic biology. This review focuses on cell-free riboswitches, an overview that has been missing so far. It introduces various prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems and highlights their applications.”

 

Paper

Click-based amplification: designed to facilitate various target labelling modes with ultralow background amplification
Jinyi Bai, Fusheng Guo, Mengyao Li, Yulong Li and Xiaoguang Lei
RSC Chem. Biol., 2021, 2, 906-916
DOI: 10.1039/D1CB00002K

Professor Rentmeister, “Bai et al present a versatile strategy to the problem of low signal that is often encountered when biological samples are labeled. In their “click-based amplification” a first azide is clicked to a biotin. Instead of using a regular streptavidin (SA), a modified SA with multiple azido-groups then serves as amplifier, allowing to click multiple biotins and to bind multiple reporter SAs. The authors achieved remarkable fluorescence enhancement in cultured cells and tissue.”

 

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July

In July, Editorial Board Member Ali Tavassoli selected two of his favourite articles to highlight. Professor Tavassoli’s choices are detailed below. Access the full collection for free.

Review

Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) come of age: entering the third decade of targeted protein degradation
Michael J. Bond and Craig M. Crews
RSC Chem. Biol., 2021, 2, 725-742
DOI: 10.1039/ D1CB00011J

Professor Tavassoli, “PROTACs are an exciting new drug modality that hold much promise as potential therapeutics. This timely review provides an excellent summary of this important field and is a great starting point for those interested in learning more about PROTACs.”

 

Paper

Wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici N-myristoyltransferase inhibitors: on-target antifungal activity and an unusual metabolic defense mechanism
Roman O. Fedoryshchak, Cory A. Ocasio, Benjamin Strutton, Jo Mattocks, Andrew J. Corran and Edward W. Tate
RSC Chem. Biol., 2020, 1, 68-78
DOI: 10.1039/ D0CB00020E

Professor Tavassoli, “This paper is an excellent example of the power and utility of chemical biology and chemical proteomics. The authors identify inhibitors of Z. tritici N-myristoyltransferase, and use these compounds in a chemical proteomics approach to profile the myristolated proteome in Z. tritici. These studies lead to the identification of an unusual mechanism by which the fungus defends itself from NMT inhibitors.”

 

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June

In June, three exciting articles were chosen by Editorial Board Member Jen Heemstra. Professor Heemstra’s choices are detailed below.  Access the full collection for free

Review

Interfacing non-enzymatic catalysis with living microorganisms
Joanna C. Sadler, Jonathan A. Dennis, Nick W. Johnson and Stephen Wallace
RSC Chem. Biol., 2021, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/ D1CB00072A

Professor Heemstra, “Chemical catalysis and biocatalysis each have unique advantages and limitations toward the synthesis of high-value compounds. This review highlights recent progress in biocompatible chemistry, which empowers chemists to interface biotic and abiotic catalysts to develop improved synthetic routes.”

 

Communication

An activity-based fluorescent sensor for the detection of the phenol sulfotransferase SULT1A1 in living cells
Regina A. Baglia, Kira R. Mills, Koushambi Mitra, Jasmine N. Tutol, Darby Ball, Kierstin M. Page, Jyothi Kallu, Sriharika Gottipolu, Sheena D’Arcy, Steven O. Nielsen and Sheel C. Dodani
RSC Chem. Biol., 2021, 2, 830-834
DOI: 10.1039/ D0CB00231C

Professor Heemstra, “SULT1 enzymes play important roles in biology and this paper reports the first activity-based probe for an enzyme in this class. The naphthol-based sensor functions in vitro and in live cells, providing a useful tool for drug screening and the study of cellular functions of SULT1A1.”

 

Paper

Synthesis and application of a 19F-labeled fluorescent nucleoside as a dual-mode probe for i-motif DNAs
Wen Ann Wee, Ji Hye Yum, Shingo Hirashima, Hiroshi Sugiyama and Soyoung Park
RSC Chem. Biol., 2021, 2, 876-882
DOI: 10.1039/ D1CB00020A

Professor Heemstra, “Non-canonical DNA structures such as cytosine-rich i-motifs likely have biological importance yet are elusive to study. The authors report a new cytidine analogue that shows increased fluorescence enhancement upon folding and is also compatible with 19F NMR.”

 

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April

In April Associate Editor Roderich Süssmuth selected two high quality articles to add to the collection. Below are his choices.  Access the full collection for free.

Review

Biosynthesis of alkyne-containing natural products
Xinyang Li, Jian-Ming Lv, Dan Hu and Ikuro Abe
RSC Chem. Biol., 2021, 2, 166-180
DOI: 10.1039/D0CB00190B

Professor Süssmuth, “A review article was long time due, since the alkyne group is of eminent importance in biological chemistry, particularly as a handle for the click reaction. It is interesting to see, that nature also synthesizes this functionality, which is present in various natural products.”

 

Paper

Intermediary conformations linked to the directionality of the aminoacylation pathway of nonribosomal peptide synthetases
Florian Mayerthaler, Anna-Lena Feldberg, Jonas Alfermann, Xun Sun, Wieland Steinchen, Haw Yang and Henning D. Mootz
RSC Chem. Biol., 2021, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/D0CB00220H

Professor Süssmuth, “The work addresses dynamics of non-ribosomal peptide synthetases. The understanding of the gross architecture of the NRPSs from x-ray structures is now followed in this study to understand the dynamics, an aspect of increasing importance.”

 

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March

In March it was the turn of Associate Editor Cai-Guang Yang to highlight three of his favourite articles to date. Below are his choices.  Access the full collection for free.

Review

Labelling of DNA and RNA in the cellular environment by means of bioorthogonal cycloaddition chemistry
Dorothée Ganz, Dennis Harijan and Hans-Achim Wagenknecht
RSC Chem. Biol., 2020, 1, 86-97
DOI: 10.1039/D0CB00047G

Professor Yang, “This review summarizes DNA and RNA labelling by means of bioorthogonal cycloaddition chemistry in the cellular environment. It also describes current status of orthogonal dual and triple labelling of DNA and RNA in vitro to demonstrate the potential in vivo applications for future.”

 

Papers

Macrocyclic peptides that inhibit Wnt signalling via interaction with Wnt3a
Manuel E. Otero-Ramirez, Kyoko Matoba, Emiko Mihara, Toby Passioura, Junichi Takagi and Hiroaki Suga
RSC Chem. Biol., 2020, 1, 26-34
DOI: 10.1039/D0CB00016G

Professor Yang, “By applying a unique RaPID display screening technique, this work reports the first instance of de novo macrocyclic peptides acting as direct binders of a highly hydrophobic and not commonly targeted Wnt protein or similar unstable proteins.”

 

A live-cell assay for the detection of pre-microRNA–protein interactions
Sydney L. Rosenblum, Daniel A. Lorenz and Amanda L. Garner
RSC Chem. Biol., 2021, 2, 241-247
DOI: 10.1039/D0CB00055H

Professor Yang, “This work reports the efforts in the development of a new approach for detection of RNA–protein interactions (RPIs), RNA interaction with Protein- mediated Complementation Assay (RiPCA). RiPCA could serve as a useful tool for detecting RPIs in live cells.”

 

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February

February saw Associate Editor Seung-Bum Park has added his choice to the collection. Below is Professor Park’s choice.  Access the full collection for free.

Communication

In vivo delivery of a fluorescent FPR2/ALX-targeted probe using focused ultrasound and microbubbles to image activated microglia
Sophie V. Morse, Tamara Boltersdorf, Tiffany G. Chan, Felicity N. E. Gavins, James J. Choi and Nicholas J. Long
RSC Chem. Biol., 2020, 1, 385-389
DOI: 10.1039/D0CB00140F

 

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January

In January we launched the collection with 3 papers chosen by our Editorial Chair, Professor Hiroaki Suga, alongside some of our hottest papers published in 2020. Below are Professor Suga’s choices. Access the full collection for free.

Review

The chemical biology of coronavirus host–cell interactions
Suprama Datta, Erik C. Hett, Kalpit A. Vora, Daria J. Hazuda, Rob C. Oslund, Olugbeminiyi O. Fadeyi and Andrew Emili
RSC Chem. Biol., 2021, 2, 30-46
DOI: 10.1039/D0CB00197J

Professor Suga, “This review timely and comprehensively summarizes the biological events linked to the coronavirus outbreak.”

 

Papers

A thorough analysis and categorization of bacterial interrupted adenylation domains, including previously unidentified families
Taylor A. Lundy, Shogo Mori and Sylvie Garneau-Tsodikova
RSC Chem. Biol., 2020, 1, 233-250
DOI: 10.1039/D0CB00092B

Professor Suga, “The families of interrupted A domains and types of M domains in nonribosomal peptide class of natural products have been categorized. It has illuminated patterns and insights on how to harness them for engineering studies in the future.”

 

Harnessing the PD-L1 interface peptide for positron emission tomography imaging of the PD-1 immune checkpoint
Kuan Hu, Lin Xie, Masayuki Hanyu, Yiding Zhang, Lingyun Li, Xiaohui Ma, Kotaro Nagatsu, Hisashi Suzuki, Weizhi Wang and Ming-Rong Zhang
RSC Chem. Biol., 2020, 1, 214-224
DOI: 10.1039/D0CB00070A

Professor Suga, “Authors of this paper have developed an impressive PET imaging tool for the most famous immune check point mediated by the PD-1 and PD-L1 interaction, demonstrating not only cell culture and ex vivo detection but also in vivo detection in mice.”

 

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We hope you enjoy reading these articles!