RNA nanotechnology aims to use RNA as a programmable material to create self-assembling nanodevices for application in medicine and synthetic biology. The main challenge is to develop advanced RNA robotic devices that both sense, compute, and actuate to obtain enhanced control over molecular processes. Here, we use the RNA origami method to prototype an RNA robotic device, named the “Traptamer,” that mechanically traps the fluorescent aptamer, iSpinach. The Traptamer is shown to sense two RNA key strands, acts as a Boolean AND gate, and reversibly controls the fluorescence of the iSpinach aptamer. Cryo–electron microscopy of the closed Traptamer structure at 5.45-angstrom resolution reveals the mechanical mode of distortion of the iSpinach motif. Our study suggests a general approach to distorting RNA motifs and a path forward to build sophisticated RNA machines that through sensing, computing, and actuation modules can be used to precisely control RNA functionalities in cellular systems.

中文翻译：

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一种RNA折纸机器人，可捕获并释放荧光适体

RNA纳米技术旨在利用RNA作为可编程材料来创建用于医学和合成生物学应用的自组装纳米器件。主要挑战是开发先进的 RNA 机器人设备，该设备能够感知、计算和驱动，以获得对分子过程的增强控制。在这里，我们使用 RNA 折纸方法制作了一个 RNA 机器人设备原型，名为“Traptamer”，它可以机械地捕获荧光适体 iSpinach。 Traptamer 可感应两条 RNA 关键链，充当布尔 AND 门，并可逆地控制 iSpinach 适体的荧光。 5.45 埃分辨率的封闭 Traptamer 结构的冷冻电子显微镜揭示了 iSpinach 基序的机械变形模式。我们的研究提出了一种扭曲 RNA 基序的通用方法，以及构建复杂 RNA 机器的道路，通过传感、计算和驱动模块可用于精确控制细胞系统中的 RNA 功能。