mRNA Codon Library Design for Stability and Translation

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Solution Overview

Problem

mRNA therapeutics and vaccines face challenges due to poor stability and limited shelf life, as well as low cellular uptake, necessitating improvements in mRNA characteristics such as chemical stability and translation efficiency.

Innovation Solution

Development of libraries of nucleic acids with unique sequences of triplet codons encoding the same polypeptide or its conservative substitutions, allowing for efficient translation and improved stability, utilizing synonymous codons to create large libraries that can identify mRNAs with enhanced characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If standard mRNA sequences are used, then translation efficiency is maintained, but chemical stability and shelf life are poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechemical stabilityVSAvoidtranslation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by systematically varying codon usage parameters in the mRNA sequence. Specifically, it optimizes the frequency and distribution of synonymous codons to improve chemical stability while maintaining translation efficiency. The method involves creating libraries of mRNA sequences with different codon compositions and selecting those with improved stability characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by making specific local modifications to codon usage in different regions of the mRNA sequence. Rather than uniformly changing the entire sequence, it optimizes codon selection in specific locations to improve stability while preserving translation efficiency in critical regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Duration of action of stationary object

If mRNA sequence is optimized for stability, then shelf life is extended, but cellular uptake may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshelf lifeVSAvoidcellular uptake
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses parameter changes to optimize multiple characteristics simultaneously by adjusting codon usage frequency and distribution. The method creates a balanced optimization where stability improvements do not come at the expense of cellular uptake, achieving multi-parameter optimization through systematic codon library screening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If libraries of nucleic acid species are created with unique codon sequences, then identification of improved mRNAs is enabled, but library complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentification precisionVSAvoidlibrary complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent manages library complexity through controlled parameter changes in codon usage. By systematically varying codon frequency and composition parameters within defined ranges, the method creates manageable libraries that can be screened effectively while maintaining the ability to identify sequences with improved characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250011762A1Libraries of nucleic acids and methods for optimization of mRNA
Publication Date: 2025.01.09 QUERDENKER APS

AI summary

The present invention provides libraries of nucleic acids, wherein each nucleic acid specie of the libraries comprises a unique sequence of triplet codons encoding the same polypeptide and methods of using such libraries for identification of mRNA encoding specific polypeptides with improved characteristics e.g., with regards to improved chemical stability and improved biostability, while still allowing for efficient translation in target cells.