In vitro selection of DNA aptamers binding ethanolamine

We have identified aptamers (synthetic oligonucleotides) binding to the very small molecule ethanolamine with high affinity down to the low nanomolar range. These aptamers were selected for their ability to bind to ethanolamine immobilised on magnetic beads, from an 96mer library of initially about 1 x 10(16) randomised ssDNA molecules. The dissociation constants of these aptamers range between K(D)=6 and K(D)=19 nmol L(-1). The aim of the development of ethanolamine aptamers is their use for the detection of this substance in clinical and environmental analysis. Ethanolamine is associated with several diseases. Moreover, ethanolamine and its derivatives di- and tri-ethanolamine are used in chemical and cosmetic industries. The use of biosensors with ethanolamine aptamer as new molecular recognition element could be an innovative method for an easy and fast detection of ethanolamine.     

In vitro selection of hematoporphyrin binding DNA aptamers

DNA aptamers that bind to hematoporphyrin IX (HPIX) were isolated using an in vitro selection technique. Most aptamers obtained after the 7th and 10th rounds contained guanine-rich sequences. Binding assay using fluorescence polarization technique and structural analysis by CD spectra revealed that the parallel guanine-quartet structure of the aptamer participates in the recognition of HPIX.     

In vitro selection and characterization of cellulose-binding DNA aptamers

Many nucleic acid enzymes and aptamers have modular architectures that allow them to retain their functions when combined with other nucleotide sequences. This modular function facilitates the engineering of RNAs and DNAs that have more complex functions. We sought to create new DNA aptamers that bind cellulose to provide a module for immobilizing DNAs. Cellulose has been used in a variety of applications ranging from coatings and films to pharmaceutical preparations, and therefore DNA aptamers that bind cellulose might enable new applications. We used in vitro selection to isolate aptamers from a pool of random-sequence DNAs and subjected two distinct clones to additional rounds of mutagenesis and selection. One aptamer (CELAPT 14) was chosen for sequence minimization and more detailed biochemical analysis. CELAPT 14 aptamer variants exhibit robust binding both to cellulose powder and paper. Also, an allosteric aptamer construct was engineered that exhibits ATP-mediated cellulose binding during paper chromatography.     

In vitro selection of DNA aptamers binding pesticide fluoroacetamide

Fluoroacetamide (Mw = 77.06) is a lethal rodenticide to humans and animals which is still frequently abused in food storage somewhere in China. The production of antibodies for fluoroacetamide is difficult due to its high toxicity to animals, which limits the application of immunoassay method in poison detection. In this work, aptamers targeting N-fluoroacetyl glycine as an analog of fluoroacetamide were selected by a specific systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) strategy. The binding ability of the selected aptamers to fluoroacetamide was identified using surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based assay. The estimated K_D values in the low micromolar range showed a good affinity of these aptamers to the target. Our work verified that the SELEX strategy has the potential for developing aptamers targeted to small molecular toxicants and aptamers can be employed as new recognition elements instead of antibodies for poison detection.     

In vitro selection of DNA aptamers that bind L-tyrosinamide

We have applied SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment), a combinatorial method that employs biopolymers for drug discovery, to identify single stranded DNA sequences able to bind L-Tyrosinamide, a simple mimic of Tyrosine, an amino acid essential to the catalytic activity of several enzymes of pharmaceutical interest. After 15 SELEX cycles using L-Tyrosinamide immobilized on an affinity chromatography column, the percentage of aptamers specifically eluted from the affinity column with free L-Tyrosinamide was 55% of the total. Aptamers were subcloned and sequenced, allowing the identification of a highly conserved consensus sequence, and showed a K(d) value for L-Tyrosinamide of 45 microM. The identified aptamer sequence will constitute the basis for further in vitro evolution protocols and structure-based drug design.     

In vitro selection of high-affinity DNA aptamers for streptavidin

In this study, we developed a systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment （SELEX） method using a combination of magnetic beads immobilization and flow cytometric measurement. As an example, the selection of streptavidin-specific aptamers was performed. In this protocol, the conventional SELEX procedure was optimized, fiirst using magnetic beads for target immobilization to facilitate highly efficient separation of the binding single-stranded DNA （ssDNA） aptamers from the unbound ssDNAs, and second using flow cytometry and fluorescein labeling to monitor the enrichment. The sensitivity of flow cytometry was adequate for ssDNA quantification during the SELEX procedures. The streptavidin-specific aptamers obtained in this work can be used as tools for characterization of the occupancy of streptavidin-modified surfaces with biotinylated target molecules. The method described in the study is also generally applicable to target molecules other than streptavidin.     

DNA aptamers selection for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a glycoprotein antigen generally used for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment monitoring of several types of tumors, including colorectal cancer. Nucleic acid aptamers are DNA or RNA oligonucleotides capable of binding with high specificity and affinity to a molecular target. The aim of this study was to obtain aptamers specific to CEA for use as radiopharmaceuticals in colorectal cancer diagnosis. Five aptamers were selected through the Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponencial Enrichment (SELEX) and tested using T84 (CEA+) and Hela (CEA−) cells. Apta 3 and Apta 5 showed the best results presenting high specificity and affinity for T84 cells, with dissociation constants (K_d) of 60.4 ± 5.7 nM and 37.8 ± 5.8 nM, respectively. These results indicate that Apta 3 and Apta 5 are promising candidates for identifying tumor cells that overexpress CEA.     

In vitro selection and characterization of DNA aptamers recognizing chloramphenicol

Chloramphenicol (Cam), although an effective antibiotic, has lost favour due to some fatal side effects. Thus there is an urgent need for rapid and sensitive methods to detect residues in food, feed and environment. We engineered DNA aptamers that recognize Cam as their target, by conducting in vitro selections. Aptamers are nucleic acid recognition elements that are highly specific and sensitive towards their targets and can be synthetically produced in an animal-friendly manner, making them ethical innovative alternatives to antibodies. None of the isolated aptamers in this study shared sequence homology or structural similarities with each other, indicating that specific Cam recognition could be achieved by various DNA sequences under the selection conditions used. Analyzing the binding affinities of the sequences, demonstrated that dissociation constants (K_d) in the extremely low micromolar range, which were lower than those previously reported for Cam-specific RNA aptamers, were achieved. The two best aptamers had G rich (>35%) nucleotide regions, an attribute distinguishing them from the rest and apparently responsible for their high selectivity and affinity (K_d ∼ 0.8 and 1 μM respectively). These aptamers open up possibilities to allow easy detection of Cam via aptamer-based biosensors.     

In vitro selection of single-stranded DNA aptamers that bind human pro-urokinase

Single-chain pro-urokinase is an inactive proenzyme form of human urokinase (urinary plasminogen activator) with a Mr of 50,000 which is converted to the active two-chain form by catalytic amounts of plasmin. It is used for thrombolytic therapy of acute myocardial infarction and acute ischemic stroke. We have isolated single-stranded DNA molecules with significantly increased binding affinity for human pro-urokinase by SELEX (systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment) procedure from a pool of 10(15) molecules containing 24 randomized positions which are flanked by defined regions. ssDNA from this library was hybridized with helper "fixture", thus allowing the central random chain to fold into complex three-dimentional shapes. Sequencing data from pro-urokinase aptamers obtained after 12 selection cycles displayed a highly conserved 12-14 base region.     

Selection of DNA aptamers using atomic force microscopy

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) can detect the adhesion or affinity force between a sample surface and cantilever, dynamically. This feature is useful as a method for the selection of aptamers that bind to their targets with very high affinity. Therefore, we propose the Systematic Evolution of Ligands by an EXponential enrichment (SELEX) method using AFM to obtain aptamers that have a strong affinity for target molecules. In this study, thrombin was chosen as the target molecule, and an ‘AFM-SELEX’ cycle was performed. As a result, selected cycles were completed with only three rounds, and many of the obtained aptamers had a higher affinity to thrombin than the conventional thrombin aptamer. Moreover, one type of obtained aptamer had a high affinity to thrombin as well as the anti-thrombin antibody. AFM-SELEX is, therefore, considered to be an available method for the selection of DNA aptamers that have a high affinity for their target molecules.     

Deconvolution of a complex target using DNA aptamers

In vitro selection of single-stranded nucleic acid aptamers from large random sequence libraries is now a straightforward process particularly when screening with a single target molecule. These libraries contain considerable shape diversity as evident by the successful isolation of aptamers that bind with high affinity and specificity to chemically diverse targets. We propose that aptamer libraries contain sufficient shape diversity to allow deconvolution of a complex mixture of targets. Using unfractionated human plasma as our experimental model, we aim to develop methods to obtain aptamers against as many proteins as possible. To begin, it is critical that we understand how aptamer populations change with increasing rounds of in vitro selection when using complex mixtures. Our results show that sequence representation in the selected population changes dramatically with increasing rounds of selection. Certain aptamer families were apparent after only three selection rounds. Two additional cycles saw a decline in the relative abundance of these families and the emergence of yet another family that accounted for more than 60% of sequences in the pool. To overcome this population convergence, an aptamer-based target depletion method was developed, and the library screen was repeated. The previous dominant family effectively disappeared from the selected populations but was replaced by other aptamer families. Insights gained from these initial experiments are now being applied in the creation of second generation plasma protein screens and also to the analysis of other complex biological targets.     

In vitro selection of DNA aptamers which bind to cholic acid

DNA aptamers which bind to cholic acid have been identified by in vitro selection from a pool of approximately 9x10(14) DNA molecules. After 13 rounds of selection, 19 clones with 95-100 nucleotide length were sequenced. Deletion-mutant experiments and computational sequence analysis suggested that all clones contained cholic acid binding sequences which could fold into three-way junction structures. By comparing the sequences involved in the predicted three-way junction structure of these 19 clones, it was determined that the nucleotide sequences and lengths of three stem and loop regions have no similarity. The most conserved structure seems to have three base pairs flanking the junction of the three stems and they may form a hydrophobic cavity in which they interact with cholic acid.     

High-throughput quantitative binding analysis of DNA aptamers using exonucleases

Aptamers are nucleic acid bioreceptors that have been used in various applications including medical diagnostics and as therapeutic agents. Identifying the most optimal aptamer for a particular application is very challenging. Here, we for the first time have developed a high-throughput method for accurately quantifying aptamer binding affinity, specificity, and cross-reactivity via the kinetics of aptamer digestion by exonucleases. We demonstrate the utility of this approach by isolating a set of new aptamers for fentanyl and its analogs, and then characterizing the binding properties of 655 aptamer–ligand pairs using our exonuclease digestion assay and validating the results with gold-standard methodologies. These data were used to select optimal aptamers for the development of new sensors that detect fentanyl and its analogs in different analytical contexts. Our approach dramatically accelerates the aptamer characterization process and streamlines sensor development, and if coupled with robotics, could enable high-throughput quantitative analysis of thousands of aptamer–ligand pairs.     

Automated selection of anti-protein aptamers

The in vitro selection of nucleic acid binding species (aptamers) is frequently repetitive, time-consuming, and poorly adapted to high-throughput applications. We have adapted automated workstations to select anti-protein aptamers; as an example, we demonstrated the selection of anti-lysozyme aptamers that function as efficient inhibitors of cell lysis. The increases in throughput brought about by automation should potentiate the application of aptamer technology to the rapidly growing field of proteomics.     

Semi-automated solid-phase DNA sequencing.

Increasing the efficiency of DNA sequencing necessitates the development of systems which reduce the need for manual operations by integrating template preparation, sequencing reactions, product separation and detection. A semi-automated system, whereby PCR-amplified biotinylated genomic or plasmid DNA is immobilized on streptavidin-coated magnetic beads, has been developed.     

In vitro selection of signaling aptamers

Reagentless biosensors that can directly transduce molecular recognition to optical signals should potentiate the development of sensor arrays for a wide variety of analytes. Nucleic acid aptamers that bind ligands tightly and specifically can be readily selected, but may prove difficult to adapt to biosensor applications. We have therefore attempted to develop selection methods that couple the broad molecular recognition properties of aptamers with signal transduction. Anti-adenosine aptamers were selected from a pool that was skewed to contain very few fluoresceinated uridines. The primary family of aptamers showed a doubling of relative fluorescence intensity at saturating concentrations of a cognate analyte, ATP, and could sense ATP concentrations as low as 25 microM. A single uridine was present in the best signaling aptamer. Surprisingly, other dyes could substitute for fluorescein and still specifically signal the presence of ATP, indicating that the single uridine functioned as a general "switch" for transducing molecular recognition to optical signals.     

In vitro selection of specific RNA aptamers for the NFAT DNA binding domain

Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) plays a central role in the immune response, and the immuno-suppressive drugs, cyclosporin A and FK-506, have been developed to inhibit it. However, due to the toxic effects of these drugs, which derive from their ability to inhibit calcineurin in non-immune tissues, the identification of small compounds that target NFAT directly could be an approach to developing less toxic immunosuppressive therapy. Using an in vitro selection technology termed SELEX on a combinatorial RNA library with 40 nucleotide-long random sequences, we have isolated two RNA aptamers to the NFAT DNA binding domain (DBD). Gel retardation assays and surface plasmon resonance measurements showed that the aptamers have a specific and high affinity (apparent KD~10 to 100 nM) for the NFAT DBD. Enzymatic probing analysis showed that the two RNA aptamers have similar structures and share a sequence that forms an apical loop. Moreover, RNase footprinting analysis showed that the shared sequence (GATATGAAGGA/ TGTG/AGAGAG) is critical for binding to both NFATp DBD and NFATc DBD. These results suggest that short RNAs identified in this study is a specific aptamer to NFAT DBD, and hence could be applied not only for the delineation of NFAT functions but for the development of potent immune modulating lead compounds.     

In vitro selection of DNA aptamers against the HIV-1 TAR RNA hairpin

In vitro selection was performed to identify DNA aptamers against the TAR RNA stem-loop structure of HIV-1. A counterselection step allowed the elimination of kissing complex-forming aptamers previously selected (Boiziau et al. J. Biol. Chem. 1999; 274:12730). This led to the emergence of oligonucleotides, most of which contained two consensus sequences, one targeted to the stem 3'-strand (5'-CCCTAGTTA) and the other complementary to the TAR apical loop (5'-CTCCC). The best aptamer could be shortened to a 19-mer oligonucleotide, characterized by a dissociation constant of 50 nM. A 16-mer oligonucleotide complementary to the TAR stem 3'-strand could also be derived from the identified aptamers, with an equal affinity (Kd = 50 nM). Experiments performed to elucidate the interaction between TAR and the aptamers (UV melting measures, enzymatic and chemical footprints) demonstrated that the TAR stem 5'-strand was not simply displaced as a result of the complex formation but unexpectedly remained associated on contact with the antisense oligonucleotide. We suggest that a multistranded structure could be formed.     

Direct selection of RNA beacon aptamers

A method for the direct selection of RNA molecules that can be easily converted into beacon aptamers is presented. Beacon aptamers are fluorescently labeled nucleic acids that signal the presence of a specific ligand through changes in fluorescence intensity. Typically, ligand binding causes an increase in fluorescence intensity by inducing a conformational change that separates a fluorophore/quencher pair. The method presented here simultaneously selects for ligand binding and induction of an appropriate conformational change. The method was tested by selecting RNA molecules that can detect the aminoglycoside antibiotic tobramycin. After 14 rounds of selection, two sequence families emerged. Upon conversion into beacon aptamers, representatives of the two selected sequence families specifically detected tobramycin, while a negative control RNA that did not survive the selection protocol did not function as a tobramycin beacon aptamer.