B10: Engineering and evolution of membrane-selectivity with RNA nanostructures (Kerstin Göpfrich)
This project seeks to address the question whether RNA-lipid interactions could have given rise to sequence-specific selectivity in protocellular membranes by engineering pore-forming RNA structures and enhancing their selectivity for ions and nucleic acids by directed evolution. In particular, we will use co-transcriptional folding of RNA origami to produce RNA structures with a pore cavity and anchor them in liposomes with known membrane-binding RNA aptamers. To achieve selectivity, we will establish a “liposome display” technique as a new strategy for molecular evolution relevant for the CRC community.