Ready-to-use Aptamer Biosensors for DNT and RDX
Abstract
Aptamers are nucleic acid-based reagents that bind to target molecules with high affinity and specificity. However, methods for generating aptamers from random combinatorial libraries (e.g., SELEX) are often labor-intensive and time-consuming. To address this problem, we have recently demonstrated the microfluidic SELEX (M-SELEX) technology that can accelerate aptamer isolation by enabling highly stringent selection conditions through the use of very small amounts of target molecules (X. Lou et a/, PNAS 2009). In this work, we utilize the M-SELEX technology to generate a novel class of Self-Reporting Aptamers (SRAs) which are capable of a) specifically bind to their target, b) undergo conformational change triggered by this binding event, and c) activate a DNA enzyme moiety within the aptamer structure to fluorescently report the binding event. This technique is especially useful for the detection of small molecules because it does not require immobilization of the target molecules on solid support. As a proof of concept, in the last reporting period, we have demonstrated the isolation of SRAs that specifically bind to a target protein with low nanomolar affinity (S. Oh eta/., in review), and we report our progress in generating SRAs against small molecule targets.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 29, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA551279
Entities
People
- Hyonsok T. Soh
- Yao Xiao
Organizations
- University of California, Santa Barbara