Fluorescence-based method for quantifying RNA turnover

Important results from the project

Although the overall goal of improving the metabolic RNA labeling with the help of new fluorescent nucleotide prodrugs cannot be considered fulfilled, we have gained important new insights related to the synthesis of the fluorescent nucleoside 2CNqA. In this way, Lanterna has improved a critical laboratory process for the company, which will contribute to diversifying our product catalog.

Expected long term effects

As results of the project, a more robust synthesis route towards 2CNqA nucleoside has been developed. In addition to being a starting point for further work with prodrug synthesis, this will significantly improve our possibilities to synthesize triphosphate variants of 2CNqA, which can be used for mRNA synthesis, to develop our metabolic labeling, as well as for other project with fluorescent ATP analogs. In a broader perspective, we hope to be able to support the development of future RNA therapies with these tools.

Approach and implementation

Important achievements that strengthen our synthesis capabilities have been made, but as always when work is to be carried out that depends on the synthesis of new molecules on which later parts of the project depend, there is a risk of delays. We identified this risk from the beginning but underestimated the work involved in establishing the synthesis work in a new laboratory. One solution that is being discussed is to carry out early parts of the synthesis work with external resources in order to be able to focus on the prodrug chemistry and evaluation of the target molecules more quickly.