# Development of a Structurally Interacting RNA (sxRNA) technology

> **NIH NIH R01** · SUNY POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE · 2021 · $567,247

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 The sxRNA Technology is conceptually based on the binding of one RNA molecule to a second RNA
molecule in a manner that predictably “switches” the structural confirmation of the first RNA. As a
demonstration of the potential of sxRNA technology, we have used the presence/absence of a microRNA as a
“trigger” to turn ON the translational activity of an ectopically delivered Bait-mRNA sequence to create the
binding-motif for an endogenous RNA-Binding Protein (RBP). Once the RBP is recruited to the now functional
motif, translation of the mRNA is activated to produce any protein of interest. Thus sxRNA can be used for the
transient expression of an ectopically delivered mRNA based on the presence of distinctively expressed
microRNAs.
 The current sxRNA technology has been reduced to practice based around a modular design comprised of
the switchable bait-RNA structure (Aim 1), the trigger-RNA (Aim 2) and the tethered open reading frame coding
for a gene of interest (Aim 3). The long-term objective of this Focused Technology Research and Development
grant is to fully develop the sxRNA technology so that it can be utilized to its broadest potential for Public
Health. Accordingly, the Aims are designed to facilitate the comprehensive development, optimization and
improvement of each of the modules of the existing sxRNA technology and expand the potential as a new
RNA-based molecular resource with multiple applications including as a real-time, single-cell sensor of
microRNA expression, as a tool for targeted cell/tissue selection, in stem-cell differentiation and manufacture,
for biomanufacturing, as an anti-viral/bacterial technology and as a new RNA-based tool for cell and tissue
bioimaging.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10073523
- **Project number:** 5R01GM125870-04
- **Recipient organization:** SUNY POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** SCOTT A TENENBAUM
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $567,247
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-01-01 → 2023-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10073523

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10073523, Development of a Structurally Interacting RNA (sxRNA) technology (5R01GM125870-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10073523. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*