Using Azobenzene Incorporated DNA Aptamers to Probe Molecular Binding Interactions

详细信息    查看全文

• 作者：Joseph A. Phillips ; Haipeng Liu ; Meghan B. O鈥橠onoghue ; Xiangling Xiong ; Ruowen Wang ; Mingxu You ; Kwame Sefah ; Weihong Tan
• 刊名：Bioconjugate Chemistry
• 出版年：2011
• 出版时间：February 16, 2011
• 年：2011
• 卷：22
• 期：2
• 页码：282-288
• 全文大小：947K
• 年卷期：v.22,no.2(February 16, 2011)
• ISSN：1520-4812

文摘

The rational design of DNA/RNA aptamers for use as molecular probes depends on a clear understanding of their structural elements in relation to target鈭抋ptamer binding interactions. We present a simple method to create aptamer probes that can occupy two different structural states. Then, based on the difference in binding affinity between these states, target鈭抋ptamer binding interactions can be elucidated. The basis of our two-state system comes from the incorporation of azobenzene within the DNA strand. Azobenzene can be used to photoregulate the melting of DNA-duplex structures. When incorporated into aptamers, the light-regulated conformational change of azobenzene can be used to analyze how aptamer secondary structure is involved in target binding. Azobenzene-modified aptamers showed no change in target selectivity, but showed differences in binding affinity as a function of the number, position, and conformation of azobenzene modifications. Aptamer probes that can change binding affinity on demand may have future uses in targeted drug delivery and photodynamic therapy.