[2018 Fall Life Sciences & IBB Seminar]

▶Subject: Group I intron-based RNA reprogramming for cancer therapeutics

▶Speaker: Seong-Wook Lee (Dankook University)

▶Date: 4:30PM/Nov. 30(Fri.)/ 2018

▶Place: Auditorium(1F), Postech Biotech Center

▶Abctract
Gene replacement approach may be appropriate for cancer therapeutics and diagnostics. In this study, we proposed targeted RNA replacement-based gene replacement as an effective cancer theranostics. To this end, we developed group I intron-based trans-splicing ribozyme that can enable to highly specifically sense and reprogram target RNA into therapeutic transgene. Especially, we developed and optimized hTERT-targeting trans-splicing ribozyme downstream suicide gene for highly efficient antitumor activity with least off-target effect for anti-cancer theranostics application. We improved RNA replacement efficacy through increasing intracellular expression of the ribozyme at transcriptional/post-transcriptional level and enhanced tumor selectivity through microRNA regulation. Of note, systemic administration of adenovirus encoding our refined ribozyme achieved great anti-tumor efficacy and improved ability to specifically target tumor without hepatotoxicity in vivo.
Furthermore, noninvasive imaging modalities were successfully employed to monitor both how well a therapeutic gene was expressed inside tumor and how effectively a ribozyme therapy took an action against tumor. Taken together, targeted RNA replacement using the optimized therapeutic ribozyme and its image-aided evaluation system may lead to the powerful strategy for successful clinical translation and the development of clinical protocols for personalized cancer therapy.

▶Inquiry: Prof. Yoontae Lee (279-2354)

* This seminar will be given in English.
Please refrain from taking photos during seminars. *