Modular Approach for Rapid Identification of RNA-Based Sensors.

Detection of metabolites in real time and in whole cells requires effective molecular sensors. In this regard, fluorogenic light-up RNAs have recently become important tools for small-molecule detection in cells. However, the construction of light-up RNA sensors is an arduous task that requires structural knowledge of both the sensor and reporter RNA.

Hunting Cells for Gentle Liberation.

In a recent issue of Cell Chemical Biology, Gray et al. (2020) report an aptamer-based method to reversibly label and isolate EGF receptor-expressing cells from heterogeneous mixtures by cell sorting approaches. Subsequent treatment using complementary oligonucleotides restores full functionality of EGF receptors, highlighting the superiority of this method to antibody-based sorting.

Robotic assisted generation of 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-modifed RNA aptamers - High performance enabling strategies in aptamer selection.

Aptamer selection is a laborious procedure, requiring expertise and significant resources. These characteristics limit the accessibility of researchers to these molecular tools. We describe a selection procedure, making use of a robotic system that allows the fully automated selection of RNA and 2'deoxy-2'-fluoro pyrimidine RNA aptamers.