Programming Fluorogenic DNA Probes for Rapid Detection of Steroids
Abstract
The ability of aptamers to recognize a variety of different molecules has fueled their emergence as recognition agents to probe complex media and cells. Many detection strategies require aptamer binding to its target to result in a dramatic change in structure, typically from an unfolded to a folded state. Here, we report a strategy based on forced intercalation (FIT) that increases the scope of aptamer recognition by transducing subtle changes in aptamer structures into fluorescent readouts. By screening a library of green‐fluorescent FIT‐aptamers whose design is guided by computational modeling, we could identify hits that sense steroids like dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) down to 1.3 μM with no loss in binding affinity compared to the unmodified aptamer. This enabled us to study DHEAS in clinical serum samples with several advantages over gold standard methods, including rapid readout (<30 min), simple instrumentation (plate‐reader), and low sample volumes (10 μL).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2021
- Source ID
- 10.1002/ange.202103440
Entities
People
- Arabela A. Grigorescu
- Benjamin E. Partridge
- Caroline D Kusmierz
- Chad Mirkin
- Devleena Samanta
- Ho Fung Cheng
- Jorge L. Chávez
- Peter A Mirau
- Sasha B Ebrahimi
Organizations
- 711th Human Performance Wing
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Air Force Research Laboratory
- National Cancer Institute
- National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka
- Northwestern University
- Sherman Fairchild Foundation