RNA aptamers targeting the carboxyl terminus of KRAS oncoprotein generated by an improved SELEX with isothermal RNA amplification

A G-quadruplex-forming RNA aptamer binds to the MTG8 TAFH domain and dissociates the leukemic AML1-MTG8 fusion protein from DNA

MTG8 (RUNX1T1) is a fusion partner of AML1 (RUNX1) in the leukemic chromosome translocation t(8;21). The AML1-MTG8 fusion gene encodes a chimeric transcription factor. One of the highly conserved domains of MTG8 is TAFH which possesses homology with human TAF4 [TATA-box binding protein-associated factor]. To obtain specific inhibitors of the AML1-MTG8 fusion protein, we isolated RNA aptamers against the MTG8 TAFH domain using systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment. All TAF aptamers contained guanine-rich sequences. Analyses of a TAF aptamer by NMR, CD, and mutagenesis revealed that it forms a parallel G-quadruplex structure in the presence of K⁺ . Furthermore, the aptamer could bind to the AML1-MTG8 fusion protein and dissociate the AML1-MTG8/DNA complex, suggesting that it can inhibit the dominant negative effects of AML1-MTG8 against normal AML1 function and serve as a potential therapeutic agent for leukemia.

Aptamers for DNA Damage and Repair

DNA is damaged on a daily basis, which can lead to heritable mutations and the activation of proto-oncogenes. Therefore, DNA damage and repair are critical risk factors in cancer, aging and disease, and are the underlying bases of most frontline cancer therapies. Much of our current understanding of the mechanisms that maintain DNA integrity has been obtained using antibody-based assays. The oligonucleotide equivalents of antibodies, known as aptamers, have emerged as potential molecular recognition rivals. Aptamers possess several ideal properties including chemical stability, in vitro selection and lack of batch-to-batch variability. These properties have motivated the incorporation of aptamers into a wide variety of analytical, diagnostic, research and therapeutic applications. However, their use in DNA repair studies and DNA damage therapies is surprisingly un-tapped. This review presents an overview of the progress in selecting and applying aptamers for DNA damage and repair research.

Aptamers as therapeutic middle molecules

Therapeutic molecules can be classified as low-, middle- and high-molecular weight drugs depending on their molecular masses. Antibodies represent high-molecular weight drugs and their clinical applications have been developing rapidly. Aptamers, on the other hand, are middle-molecular weight molecules that are short, single-stranded nucleic acid sequences that are selected in vitro from large oligonucleotide libraries based on their high affinity to a target molecule. Hence, aptamers can be thought of as a nucleic acid analog to antibodies. However, several viewpoints hold that the potential of aptamers arises from interesting characteristics that are distinct from, or in some cases, superior to those of antibodies. Recently, therapeutic middle molecules gain considerable attention as protein-protein interaction (PPI) inhibitors. This review summarizes the recent achievements in aptamer development in our laboratory in terms of PPI and non-PPI inhibitors.

Blind SELEX Approach Identifies RNA Aptamers That Regulate EMT and Inhibit Metastasis

Identifying targets that are exposed on the plasma membrane of tumor cells, but expressed internally in normal cells, is a fundamental issue for improving the specificity and efficacy of anticancer therpeutics. Using blind cell Systemic Evolution of Ligands by EXponetial enrichment (SELEX), which is untargeted SELEX, we have identified an aptamer, P15, which specifically bound to the human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells. To identify the aptamer binding plasma membrane protein, liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used. The results of this unbiased proteomic mass spectrometry approach identified the target of P15 as the intermediate filament vimentin, biomarker of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is an intracellular protein but is specifically expressed on the plasma membrane of cancer cells. As EMT plays a pivotal role to transit cancer cells to invasive cells, tumor cell metastasis assays were performed in vitro P15-treated pancreatic cancer cells showed the significant inhibition of tumor metastasis. To investigate the downstream effects of P15, EMT-related gene expression analysis was performed to identify differently expressed genes (DEG). Among five DEGs, P15-treated cells showed the downregulated expression of matrix metallopeptidase 3 (MMP3), which is involved in cancer invasion. These results, for the first time, demonstrate that P15 binding to cell surface vimentin inhibits the tumor cell invasion and is associated with reduced MMP3 expression. Thus, suggesting that P15 has potential as an anti-metastatic therapy in pancreatic cancer.Implications: This study reveals that anti-vimentin RNA aptamers selected via blind-SELEX inhibit the tumor cell metastasis. Mol Cancer Res; 15(7); 811-20. ©2017 AACR.

Aptamer-based technology for food analysis

Aptamers are short and functional single-stranded oligonucleotide sequences selected from systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) process, which have the capacity to recognize various classes of target molecules with high affinity and specificity. Various analytical aptamers acquired by SELEX are widely used in many research fields, such as medicine, biology, and chemistry. However, the application of this innovative and emerging technology to food safety is just in infant stage. Food safety plays a very important role in our daily lives because varieties of poisonous and harmful substances in food affect human health. Aptamer technique is promising, which can overcome many disadvantages of existing detection methods in food safety, such as long detection time, low sensitivity, difficult, and expensive antibody preparation. This review provides an overview of various aptamer screening technologies and summarizes the recent applications of aptamers in food safety, and future prospects are also discussed.

New Technologies Provide Quantum Changes in the Scale, Speed, and Success of SELEX Methods and Aptamer Characterization

Single-stranded oligonucleotide aptamers have attracted great attention in the past decade because of their diagnostic and therapeutic potential. These versatile, high affinity and specificity reagents are selected by an iterative in vitro process called SELEX, Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment. Numerous SELEX methods have been developed for aptamer selections; some that are simple and straightforward, and some that are specialized and complicated. The method of SELEX is crucial for selection of an aptamer with desired properties; however, success also depends on the starting aptamer library, the target molecule, aptamer enrichment monitoring assays, and finally, the analysis and characterization of selected aptamers. Here, we summarize key recent developments in aptamer selection methods, as well as other aspects of aptamer selection that have significant impact on the outcome. We discuss potential pitfalls and limitations in the selection process with an eye to aid researchers in the choice of a proper SELEX strategy, and we highlight areas where further developments and improvements are desired. We believe carefully designed multiplexed selection methods, when complemented with high-throughput downstream analysis and characterization assays, will yield numerous high-affinity aptamers to protein and small molecule targets, and thereby generate a vast array of reagents for probing basic biological mechanisms and implementing new diagnostic and therapeutic applications in the near future.

Solution structure of a DNA mimicking motif of an RNA aptamer against transcription factor AML1 Runt domain

AML1/RUNX1 is an essential transcription factor involved in the differentiation of hematopoietic cells. AML1 binds to the Runt-binding double-stranded DNA element (RDE) of target genes through its N-terminal Runt domain. In a previous study, we obtained RNA aptamers against the AML1 Runt domain by systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment and revealed that RNA aptamers exhibit higher affinity for the Runt domain than that for RDE and possess the 5'-GCGMGNN-3' and 5'-N'N'CCAC-3' conserved motif (M: A or C; N and N' form Watson-Crick base pairs) that is important for Runt domain binding. In this study, to understand the structural basis of recognition of the Runt domain by the aptamer motif, the solution structure of a 22-mer RNA was determined using nuclear magnetic resonance. The motif contains the AH(+)-C mismatch and base triple and adopts an unusual backbone structure. Structural analysis of the aptamer motif indicated that the aptamer binds to the Runt domain by mimicking the RDE sequence and structure. Our data should enhance the understanding of the structural basis of DNA mimicry by RNA molecules.

The Runt domain of AML1 (RUNX1) binds a sequence-conserved RNA motif that mimics a DNA element

AML1 (RUNX1) is a key transcription factor for hematopoiesis that binds to the Runt-binding double-stranded DNA element (RDE) of target genes through its N-terminal Runt domain. Aberrations in the AML1 gene are frequently found in human leukemia. To better understand AML1 and its potential utility for diagnosis and therapy, we obtained RNA aptamers that bind specifically to the AML1 Runt domain. Enzymatic probing and NMR analyses revealed that Apt1-S, which is a truncated variant of one of the aptamers, has a CACG tetraloop and two stem regions separated by an internal loop. All the isolated aptamers were found to contain the conserved sequence motif 5'-NNCCAC-3' and 5'-GCGMGN'N'-3' (M:A or C; N and N' form Watson-Crick base pairs). The motif contains one AC mismatch and one base bulged out. Mutational analysis of Apt1-S showed that three guanines of the motif are important for Runt binding as are the three guanines of RDE, which are directly recognized by three arginine residues of the Runt domain. Mutational analyses of the Runt domain revealed that the amino acid residues used for Apt1-S binding were similar to those used for RDE binding. Furthermore, the aptamer competed with RDE for binding to the Runt domain in vitro. These results demonstrated that the Runt domain of the AML1 protein binds to the motif of the aptamer that mimics DNA. Our findings should provide new insights into RNA function and utility in both basic and applied sciences.

RNA plasticity and selectivity applicable to therapeutics and novel biosensor development

Aptamers are short, single-stranded nucleic acid sequences that are selected in vitro from large oligonucleotide libraries based on their high affinity to a target molecule. Hence, aptamers can be thought of as a nucleic acid analog to antibodies. However, several viewpoints hold that the potential of aptamers arises from interesting characteristics that are distinct from, or in some cases, superior to those of antibodies. This review summarizes the recent achievements in aptamer programs developed in our laboratory against basic and therapeutic protein targets. Through these studies, we became aware of the remarkable conformational plasticity and selectivity of RNA, on which the published report has not shed much light even though this is evidently a crucial feature for the strong specificity and affinity of RNA aptamers.

Evaluation of the clinical value of ELISA based on MPT64 antibody aptamer for serological diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis

Background

Presently, tuberculosis (TB) poses a global threat to human health. The development of reliable laboratory tools is vital to the diagnosis and treatment of TB. MPT64, a protein secreted by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, is highly specific for TB, making antibody to MPT64 a reagent specific for the diagnosis of TB.

Method

Antibody to MPT64 was obtained by a combination of genetic engineering and immunization by the system evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment. A high-affinity aptamer of antibody to MPT64 was selected from a random single-stranded DNA library, and a sandwich ELISA method based on this aptamer was developed. This ELISA method was used to detect TB in 328 serum samples, 160 from patients with pulmonary TB (PTB) and 168 from non-tuberculous controls.

Results

The minimum limit of detection of the ELISA method was 2.5 mg/L, and its linear range varied from 10 mg/L to 800 mg/L. Its sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio and area under the curve, with 95 % confidence intervals, were 64.4 % (56.7 %–71.4 %), 99.4 % (96.7 %–99.9 %), 108.2 (15.3–765.9), 0.350 (0.291–0.442) and 0.819 (0.770–0.868), respectively. No significant difference in sensitivity was observed between sputum smear positive (73/112, 65.2 %) and negative (30/48, 62.5 %) individuals.

Conclusions

This sandwich ELISA based on an MPT64 antibody aptamer may be useful for the serological diagnosis of PTB, both in sputum smear positive and negative patients.

Intracellular delivery of RNA-based therapeutics using aptamers

The clinical potential of siRNAs for silencing genes critical to disease progression is clear, but a fail-proof method for delivering siRNAs to the cytoplasm of diseased tissues or cells has yet to be identified. A variety of delivery approaches have been explored to directly or indirectly couple siRNAs to delivery vehicles. This review explores the use of synthetic single-stranded DNA and RNA aptamers as a means to deliver siRNAs, shRNAs and antisense oligonucleotides for therapeutic intervention. Topics covered include: the advantages and challenges of using aptamers as delivery tools; current aptamer-mediated siRNA delivery platforms for the treatment of cancer and HIV; and emerging methodologies for the identification of aptamers capable of internalizing into target cell types.

Identification of RNA aptamer specific to mutant KRAS protein

Mutations in the KRAS gene are required for early occurrence and maintenance of tumorigenesis and are the most frequently found in many types of human malignant diseases. Therefore, approaches targeting RAS function have been proposed for cancer therapy. However, no selective and specific inhibitors of KRAS have yet been developed as anticancer agents. In this study, by employing counter-systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment technique, we identified and characterized an RNA aptamer that specifically bound to mutant KRAS protein with a point mutation in codon 12 of the KRAS gene. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis, surface plasmon resonance measurements, and competitive precipitation experiments showed that the selected aptamer contained activities of specific and high-affinity binding to the mutant KRAS (K(D) approximately 4.04 nM) but much less binding to the wild type (K(D) approximately 227 nM). This RNA aptamer could be useful as a ligand for specific therapeutics and diagnostics against mutant KRAS-mediated cancers.

The selection of aptamers specific for membrane molecular targets

A growing number of RNA aptamers have been selected experimentally using the SELEX combinatorial approach, and these aptamers have several advantages over monoclonal protein antibodies or peptides with respect to their applications in medicine and nanobiotechnology. Relatively few successful selections have been reported for membrane molecular targets, in contrast to the situation with non-membrane molecular targets. This review compares the procedures and techniques used in selections against membrane proteins and membrane lipids. In the case of membrane proteins, the selections were performed against soluble protein fragments, detergent-membrane protein mixed micelles, whole cells, vesicles derived from cellular membranes, and enveloped viruses. Liposomes were used as an experimental system for the selection of aptamers against membrane lipids. RNA structure-dependent aptamer binding for rafts in lipid vesicles was reported. Based on the selected aptamers against DOPC and the amino acid tryptophan, a specific passive membrane transporter composed of RNA was constructed. The determination of the selectivity of aptamers appears to be a crucial step in a selection, but has rarely been fully investigated. The selections, which use whole cells or vesicles derived from membranes, can yield aptamers not only against proteins but also against membrane lipids.

In vitro selection and characterization of cellulose-binding RNA aptamers using isothermal amplification

We sought to create new cellulose-binding RNA aptamers for use as modular components in the engineering of complex functional nucleic acids. We designed our in vitro selection strategy to incorporate self-sustained sequence replication (3SR), which is an isothermal nucleic acid amplification protocol that allows for the rapid amplification of RNAs with little manipulation. The best performing aptamer representative was chosen for reselection and further optimization. The aptamer exhibits robust binding of cellulose in both the powdered and paper form, but did not show any significant binding of closely related polysaccharides. The minimal cellulose-binding RNA aptamer also can be grafted onto other RNAs to permit the isolation of RNAs from complex biochemical mixtures via cellulose affinity chromatography. This was demonstrated by fusing the aptamer to a glmS ribozyme sequence, and selectively eluting ribozyme cleavage products from cellulose using glucosamine 6-phosphate to activate glmS ribozyme function.