Engineering a Synthetic RNA Segregation System

Cells possess a number of active segregation machineries for both chromosomal and large extrachromosomal DNA elements to avoid stochastic loss during cell division. In contrast, system that can be exploited active, general RNA molecules including mRNAs or self-replicating constructs are currently lacking. Here, we present an artificial derived from the bacterial type II ParMRC plasmid coliphage MS2. We show fusing partition protein ParR with MS2 coat enables specific binding microbeads decorated RNA-repeats archetypical operator hairpin. Addition actin homologue ParM triggers efficient rapid via ATP-dependent polymerization. Our new partitioning could used localization and/or stable maintenance vectors in various contexts such as living cells.