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Edwards A, Iannucci AN, VanDenBerg J, Kesti A, Rice T, Sethi S, Dhakal S, Yangyuoru PM. G-Quadruplex Structure in the ATP-Binding DNA Aptamer Strongly Modulates Ligand Binding Activity. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:14343-14350. [PMID: 38560010 PMCID: PMC10976393 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c10386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Secondary structures formed by single-stranded DNA aptamers can allow for the binding of small-molecule ligands. Some of these secondary structures are highly stable in solution and are great candidates for use in the development of molecular tools for biomarker detection, environmental monitoring, and others. In this paper, we explored adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding aptamers for the simultaneous detection of two small-molecule ligands: adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and thioflavin T (ThT). The aptamer can form a G-quadruplex (G4) structure with two G-quartets, and our results show that each of these quartets is equally involved in binding. Using fluorescently labeled and label-free methods, we further explored the role of the G4 motif in modulating the ligand binding property of the aptamer by making two extended variants that can form three or four G-quartet G4 structures. Through equilibrium binding and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) analysis, we observed a stronger affinity of aptamers to ATP by the variant G4 constructs relative to the native aptamer (Kd range of 0.040-0.042 μM for variants as compared to 0.15 μM for the native ATP aptamer). Additionally, we observed a dual binding of ThT and ATP to the G4 constructs in the label-free and ESI-MS analyses. These findings together suggest that the G4 motif in the ATP aptamer is a critical structural element that is required for optimum ATP binding and can be modulated for the binding of multiple ligands. These findings are instrumental for designing smart molecular tools for a wide range of applications, including biomarker monitoring and ligand binding studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleah
N. Edwards
- Northern
Michigan University, 1401 Presque Isle Ave, Marquette, Michigan 49855, United States
| | - Alexandria N. Iannucci
- Northern
Michigan University, 1401 Presque Isle Ave, Marquette, Michigan 49855, United States
| | - Jacob VanDenBerg
- Northern
Michigan University, 1401 Presque Isle Ave, Marquette, Michigan 49855, United States
| | - Annastiina Kesti
- Northern
Michigan University, 1401 Presque Isle Ave, Marquette, Michigan 49855, United States
| | - Tommie Rice
- Northern
Michigan University, 1401 Presque Isle Ave, Marquette, Michigan 49855, United States
| | - Srishty Sethi
- Virginia
Commonwealth University, 1001 W Main St., Richmond, Virginia 23284, United States
| | - Soma Dhakal
- Virginia
Commonwealth University, 1001 W Main St., Richmond, Virginia 23284, United States
| | - Philip M. Yangyuoru
- Northern
Michigan University, 1401 Presque Isle Ave, Marquette, Michigan 49855, United States
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Liu S, Wang Z, Wu S, Cao T, Zhao G. Class-specific recognition and monitoring of environmental steroid estrogens in real water systems utilizing aptamer base substitution mutagenesis approach. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 462:132704. [PMID: 37839381 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
The same class of environmental steroid estrogens (SEs) with the highest estrogenic activity share the same chemical core structure and are often found together in the environment, posing significant risks to organismal health and environmental safety due to toxicity accumulation. In this study, a novel method for constructing the group-targeting aptasensor was developed to comprehensively analyze SEs. Through artificial intervention base substitution mutagenesis of adjacent bases T13 and C20 of the aptamer-binding domain recognizing 17β-estradiol, combined with docking calculations, the group-targeting SEs-aptamer for class-specific recognition SEs, such as estrone, estradiol, estriol, and ethinylestradiol were obtained. The binding constant of the SEs-aptamer to the SEs was 108 M-1. The established group-targeting SEs aptasensor exhibited high sensitivity within a concentration range from 0.1 to 10 nM and demonstrated strong interference resistance, as well as high stability and wide pH water applicability. It was further applied to analyze real water samples and monitor changes in SEs concentrations during the removal process by Chlorella pyrenoidosa. These successful applications have demonstrated the excellent ability of this aptasensor to monitor SE in the environment. The method offered a new approach and idea for recognizing and detecting the same class of environmental pollutants in complex systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyao Liu
- School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration, Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital,Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiming Wang
- School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration, Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital,Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, People's Republic of China
| | - Siqi Wu
- School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration, Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital,Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, People's Republic of China
| | - Tongcheng Cao
- School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration, Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital,Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, People's Republic of China
| | - Guohua Zhao
- School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration, Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital,Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, People's Republic of China.
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Zhang Y, Li Y. Clinical Translation of Aptamers for COVID-19. J Med Chem 2023; 66:16568-16578. [PMID: 37880142 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 etiologic agent, SARS-CoV-2, continues to be one of the leading causes of death on a global scale. Although efficient methods for diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 have been developed, new methods of battling SARS-CoV-2 variants and long COVID are still urgently needed. A number of aptamers have demonstrated tremendous potential to be developed into diagnostic and therapeutic agents for COVID-19. The translation of the aptamers for clinical uses, however, has been extremely slow. Overcoming the difficulties faced by aptamers would advance this technology toward clinical use for COVID-19 and other serious disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhang
- College of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Yongen Li
- College of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
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Assays to Estimate the Binding Affinity of Aptamers. Talanta 2022; 238:122971. [PMID: 34857318 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.122971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Aptamers have become coming-of-age molecular recognition elements in both diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Generated by SELEX, the 'quality control' of aptamers, which involves the validation of their binding affinity against their respective targets is pivotal to ascertain their potency prior to use in any downstream assays or applications. Several aptamers have been isolated thus far, however, the usage of inappropriate validation assays renders some of these aptamers dubitable in terms of their binding capabilities. Driven by this need, we provide an up-to-date critical review of the various strategies used to determine the aptamer-target binding affinity with the aim of providing researchers a better comprehension of the different analytical approaches in respect to the molecular properties of aptamers and their intended targets. The techniques reported have been classified as label-based techniques such as fluorescence intensity, fluorescence anisotropy, filter-binding assays, gel shift assays, ELISA; and label-free techniques such as UV-Vis spectroscopy, circular dichroism, isothermal titration calorimetry, native electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry, quartz crystal microbalance, surface plasmon resonance, NECEEM, backscattering interferometry, capillary electrophoresis, HPLC, and nanoparticle aggregation assays. Hybrid strategies combining the characteristics of both categories such as microscale thermophoresis have been also additionally emphasized. The fundamental principles, complexity, benefits, and challenges under each technique are elaborated in detail.
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Xi H, Jiang H, Juhas M, Zhang Y. Fluorescence detection of the human angiotensinogen protein by the G-quadruplex aptamer. Analyst 2022; 147:4040-4048. [DOI: 10.1039/d2an01057g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Schematic diagram of AGT detection by a G-quadruplex based fluorescent biosensor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Xi
- College of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China
| | - Hanlin Jiang
- College of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China
| | - Mario Juhas
- Medical and Molecular Microbiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, 1700, Switzerland
| | - Yang Zhang
- College of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China
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Huang X, He Z, Zhou K, Zhi H, Yang J. Fabrication of bifunctional G-quadruplex-hemin DNAzymes for colorimetric detection of apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 and microRNA-21. Analyst 2021; 146:7379-7385. [PMID: 34816841 DOI: 10.1039/d1an01603b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
G-quadruplex-based complexes have been widely used in various analytical methods due to their outstanding capabilities of generating colorimetric, fluorescent or electrochemical signals. However, since loop sequences in traditional G-quadruplex structures are quite short, it is difficult to establish biosensors solely using G-quadruplex-based complexes. Herein, we attempted to lengthen the loop sequences of G-quadruplex structures and found that G-quadruplex-hemin DNAzymes (G-DNAzymes) with long loops (even 30 nucleotides) maintain high peroxidase activity. In addition, the peroxidase activity is not affected by the hybridization of the long loop with its complementary counterpart. Consequently, G-DNAzyme can be endowed with an additional function by taking the long loop as a recognition element, which may facilitate the construction of diverse colorimetric biosensors. Furthermore, by designing an apurinic/apyrimidinic site or a complementary sequence of microRNA-21 (miRNA-21) in long loops, bifunctional G-DNAzymes can be split in the presence of apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) or miRNA-21, decreasing their peroxidase activities. Accordingly, APE1 and miRNA-21 are quantified using 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine as a chromophore. Using the G-DNAzyme, APE1 can be detected in a linear range from 2.5 to 22.5 U mL-1 with a LOD of 1.8 U mL-1. It is to be noted that benefitting from duplex-specific nuclease-induced signal amplification, the linear range of the miRNA-21 biosensor is broadened to 5 orders of magnitude, while the limit of detection is as low as 73 fM. This work demonstrates that G-DNAzymes with long loops can both generate signals and recognize targets, providing an alternative strategy to design G-quadruplex-based analytical methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Huang
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biofunctional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, P. R. China.
| | - Zhenni He
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biofunctional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, P. R. China.
| | - Kejie Zhou
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biofunctional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, P. R. China.
| | - Huizhen Zhi
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biofunctional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, P. R. China.
| | - Jinfei Yang
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biofunctional Materials, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, P. R. China.
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Patil KM, Chin D, Seah HL, Shi Q, Lim KW, Phan AT. G4-PROTAC: targeted degradation of a G-quadruplex binding protein. Chem Commun (Camb) 2021; 57:12816-12819. [PMID: 34783801 DOI: 10.1039/d1cc05025g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
G-quadruplex (G4) binding proteins regulate important biological processes, but their interaction networks are poorly understood. We report the first use of G4 as a warhead of a proteolysis-targeting chimera (G4-PROTAC) for targeted degradation of a G4-binding protein (RHAU/DHX36). G4-PROTAC provides a new way to explore G4-protein networks and to develop potential therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran M Patil
- School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 637371, Singapore.
| | - Danielle Chin
- School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 637371, Singapore.
| | - Hui Ling Seah
- School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 637371, Singapore.
| | - Qi Shi
- School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 637371, Singapore.
| | - Kah Wai Lim
- School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 637371, Singapore.
| | - Anh Tuân Phan
- School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 637371, Singapore. .,NTU Institute of Structural Biology, Nanyang Technological University, 636921, Singapore
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Xiao X, Li H, Zhao L, Zhang Y, Liu Z. Oligonucleotide aptamers: Recent advances in their screening, molecular conformation and therapeutic applications. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 143:112232. [PMID: 34649356 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Aptamers are single stranded oligonucleotides with specific recognition and binding ability to target molecules, which can be obtained by Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX). Aptamers have the advantages of low molecular weight, low immunogenicity, easy modification and high stability. They play promising role in promoting food safety, monitoring the environment and basic research, especially in clinical diagnosis and therapeutic drugs. To date, great achievements regarding the selection, modifications and application of aptamers have been made. However, since it is still a challenge to obtain aptamers with high affinity in a more effective way, few aptamer-based products have already successfully entered into clinical use. This review aims to provide a thorough overview of the latest advances in this rapidly developing field, focusing on aptamer screening methods for different targets, the structure of the interaction between aptamers and target substances, and the challenges and potential of current therapeutic aptamers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueran Xiao
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Quality Control of Hebei Province, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Urology, Peking University International Hospital, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Lijian Zhao
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Quality Control of Hebei Province, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
| | - Yanfen Zhang
- Technology Transfer Center, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China.
| | - Zhongcheng Liu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Quality Control of Hebei Province, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China.
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