scholarly journals Selection of DNA aptamers with two modified bases

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (11) ◽  
pp. 2898-2903 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bharat N. Gawande ◽  
John C. Rohloff ◽  
Jeffrey D. Carter ◽  
Ira von Carlowitz ◽  
Chi Zhang ◽  
...  

The nucleobases comprising DNA and RNA aptamers provide considerably less chemical diversity than protein-based ligands, limiting their versatility. The introduction of novel functional groups at just one of the four bases in modified aptamers has recently led to dramatic improvement in the success rate of identifying nucleic acid ligands to protein targets. Here we explore the benefits of additional enhancement in physicochemical diversity by selecting modified DNA aptamers that contain amino-acid–like modifications on both pyrimidine bases. Using proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 as a representative protein target, we identify specific pairwise combinations of modifications that result in higher affinity, metabolic stability, and inhibitory potency compared with aptamers with single modifications. Such doubly modified aptamers are also more likely to be encoded in shorter sequences and occupy nonoverlapping epitopes more frequently than aptamers with single modifications. These highly modified DNA aptamers have broad utility in research, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications.

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 1669-1680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sougata Dey ◽  
Jonathan T Sczepanski

Abstract The development of structure-specific RNA binding reagents remains a central challenge in RNA biochemistry and drug discovery. Previously, we showed in vitro selection techniques could be used to evolve l-RNA aptamers that bind tightly to structured d-RNAs. However, whether similar RNA-binding properties can be achieved using aptamers composed of l-DNA, which has several practical advantages compared to l-RNA, remains unknown. Here, we report the discovery and characterization of the first l-DNA aptamers against a structured RNA molecule, precursor microRNA-155, thereby establishing the capacity of DNA and RNA molecules of the opposite handedness to form tight and specific ‘cross-chiral’ interactions with each other. l-DNA aptamers bind pre-miR-155 with low nanomolar affinity and high selectivity despite the inability of l-DNA to interact with native d-RNA via Watson–Crick base pairing. Furthermore, l-DNA aptamers inhibit Dicer-mediated processing of pre-miRNA-155. The sequence and structure of l-DNA aptamers are distinct from previously reported l-RNA aptamers against pre-miR-155, indicating that l-DNA and l-RNA interact with the same RNA sequence through unique modes of recognition. Overall, this work demonstrates that l-DNA may be pursued as an alternative to l-RNA for the generation of RNA-binding aptamers, providing a robust and practical approach for targeting structured RNAs.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Adams ◽  
Lorna E. Wilkinson-White ◽  
Menachem J. Gunzburg ◽  
Stephen J. Headey ◽  
Martin J. Scanlon ◽  
...  

The development of low-affinity fragment hits into higher affinity leads is a major hurdle in fragment-based drug design. Here we demonstrate an approach for the Rapid Elaboration of Fragments into Leads (REFiL) applying an integrated workflow that provides a systematic approach to generate higher-affinity binders without the need for structural information. The workflow involves the selection of commercial analogues of fragment hits to generate preliminary structure-activity relationships. This is followed by parallel microscale chemistry using chemoinformatically designed reagent libraries to rapidly explore chemical diversity. Upon completion of a fragment screen against Bromodomain-3 extra terminal (BRD3-ET) domain we applied the REFiL workflow, which allowed us to develop a series of tetrahydrocarbazole ligands that bind to the peptide binding site of BRD3-ET. With REFiL we were able to rapidly improve binding affinity >30-fold. The REFiL workflow can be applied readily to a broad range of protein targets without the need of a structure, allowing the efficient evolution of low-affinity fragments into higher affinity leads and chemical probes.<br>


Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 1213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Moreno ◽  
María Fernández-Algar ◽  
Javier Fernández-Chamorro ◽  
Jorge Ramajo ◽  
Encarnación Martínez-Salas ◽  
...  

Improvements in Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment (SELEX) technology and DNA sequencing methods have led to the identification of a large number of active nucleic acid molecules after any aptamer selection experiment. As a result, the search for the fittest aptamers has become a laborious and time-consuming task. Herein, we present an optimized approach for the label-free characterization of DNA and RNA aptamers in parallel. The developed method consists in an Enzyme-Linked OligoNucleotide Assay (ELONA) coupled to either real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR, for DNA aptamers) or reverse transcription qPCR (RTqPCR, for RNA aptamers), which allows the detection of aptamer-target interactions in the high femtomolar range. We have applied this methodology to the affinity analysis of DNA and RNA aptamers selected against the poly(C)-binding protein 2 (PCBP-2). In addition, we have used ELONA-(RT)qPCR to quantify the dissociation constant (Kd) and maximum binding capacity (Bmax) of 16 high affinity DNA and RNA aptamers. The Kd values of the high affinity DNA aptamers were compared to those derived from colorimetric ELONA performed in parallel. Additionally, Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assays (EMSA) were used to confirm the binding of representative PCBP-2-specific RNA aptamers in solution. We propose this ELONA-(RT)qPCR approach as a general strategy for aptamer characterization, with a broad applicability in biotechnology and biomedicine.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Adams ◽  
Lorna E. Wilkinson-White ◽  
Menachem J. Gunzburg ◽  
Stephen J. Headey ◽  
Martin J. Scanlon ◽  
...  

The development of low-affinity fragment hits into higher affinity leads is a major hurdle in fragment-based drug design. Here we demonstrate an approach for the Rapid Elaboration of Fragments into Leads (REFiL) applying an integrated workflow that provides a systematic approach to generate higher-affinity binders without the need for structural information. The workflow involves the selection of commercial analogues of fragment hits to generate preliminary structure-activity relationships. This is followed by parallel microscale chemistry using chemoinformatically designed reagent libraries to rapidly explore chemical diversity. Upon completion of a fragment screen against Bromodomain-3 extra terminal (BRD3-ET) domain we applied the REFiL workflow, which allowed us to develop a series of tetrahydrocarbazole ligands that bind to the peptide binding site of BRD3-ET. With REFiL we were able to rapidly improve binding affinity >30-fold. The REFiL workflow can be applied readily to a broad range of protein targets without the need of a structure, allowing the efficient evolution of low-affinity fragments into higher affinity leads and chemical probes.<br>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
An T. H. Le ◽  
Tong Y. Wang ◽  
Svetlana M. Krylova ◽  
Stanislav S. Beloborodov ◽  
Sergey Krylov

Partitioning of protein–DNA complexes from protein-unbound DNA is a key step in selection of DNA aptamers. Conceptually, the partitioning step is characterized by two parameters: transmittance for protein-bound DNA (binders) and transmittance for unbound DNA (nonbinders). Here we present the first study to reveal how these transmittances depend on experimental conditions; such studies are pivotal to the effective planning and control of selection. Our focus was capillary electrophoresis (CE) which is a partitioning approach of high efficiency. By combining a theoretical model and experimental data, we evaluated the dependence of transmittances of binders and nonbinders on the molecular weight of protein target in two modes of CE-based partitioning: nonequilibrium capillary electrophoresis of equilibrium mixtures (NECEEM) and ideal-filter capillary electrophoresis (IFCE). Our data suggest that as the molecular weight of the protein target decreases: (i) the transmittance for binders remains close to unity in NECEEM but decreases drastically in IFCE and (ii) the transmittance for nonbinders increases orders of magnitude in NECEEM but remains relatively stable at a very low level in IFCE. To determine the optimal CE conditions for a given size of protein target, a balance between transmittances of binders and nonbinder must be reached; such a balance would ensure the collection of binders of sufficient purity and quantity. We conclude that, as a rule of thumb, IFCE is preferable for large-size protein targets while NECEEM should be the method of choice for small-size protein targets


Author(s):  
D. A. Belinskaya ◽  
Yu. V. Chelusnova ◽  
V. V. Abzianidze ◽  
N. V. Goncharov

Poisoning with organophosphorus compounds occupy one of the leading places in exotoxicosis. At the first stage, the detoxification of organophosphates can be provided with the help of DNA or RNA aptamers that bind the poison in the bloodstream. Currently, the main method of searching for aptamers is the experimental method of systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). In the process of aptamer selection, the target molecule must be immobilized via the streptavidin-biotin complex. Since the poison molecule is small in size, to increase its availability for binding to aptamer, it is necessary to use a spacer between organophosphorus compounds and biotin. The aim of this work was to optimize the selection of aptamers for organophosphorus compounds by increasing the availability of a poison molecule immobilized via the streptavidin-biotin complex on the example of paraoxon. For this purpose, three spacers between organophosphorus compounds and biotin were tested using molecular modeling methods: three links of polyethylene glycol (3-PEG), four links of polyethylene glycol (4-PEG) and aminohexyl. The conformation of the biotinylated paraoxon complex with streptavidin and the interaction of paraoxon with the binding fragment of the aptamer were modeled using molecular docking and molecular dynamics methods. The ability of biotinylated paraoxon to bind to the aptamer has been evaluated by analyzing the surface area of the paraoxon available to the solvent, as well as by calculating the free binding energies. It has been shown that only in the case of aminohexyl immobilized paraoxon can contact the aptamer. At the final stage, the synthesis of paraoxon bound to biotin via aminohexyl was carried out.


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