Single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (SMFRET) was used to study the interaction of a 25-nucleotide (nt) DNA aptamer with its binding target, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Conformational dynamics of the aptamer were studied in the absence of VEGF in order to characterize fluctuations in the unbound nucleic acid. SMFRET efficiency distributions showed that, while the aptamer favors a base-paired conformation, there are frequent conversions to higher energy conformations. Conversions to higher energy structures were also demonstrated to be dependent on the concentration of Mg2+-counterion by an overall broadening of the SMFRET efficiency distribution at lower Mg2+ concentration. Introduction of VEGF caused a distinct increase in the frequency of lower SMFRET efficiencies, indicating that favorable interaction of the DNA aptamer with its VEGF target directs aptamer structure towards a more open conformation.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.05.191 | DOI Listing |
Anal Bioanal Chem
January 2025
College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Linyi University, Linyi, 276000, China.
A molecular beacon is an oligonucleotide hybridization probe that can report the presence of specific nucleic acids in homogeneous solutions. Using an aptamer has allowed an aptamer-based molecular beacon-aptamer beacon to be developed, which has shown advantages of simplicity, rapidity, and sensitivity in imaging and sensing non-nucleic acid substances. However, due to requirement for a deliberate DNA hairpin structure for the preparation of a molecular beacon, not any given aptamer is suitable for designing an aptamer beacon probe.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTalanta
December 2024
School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China. Electronic address:
Tetracycline (TC) is widely used in veterinary medicine and animal feed; however, TC residues in food pose a risk to human health. Thus, the sensitive and selective detection of TC is needed to ensure food safety. Herein, we developed a CRISPR-Cas12a biosensor with competitive aptamer binding to detect TC residues.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMikrochim Acta
January 2025
Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology, Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety of Shandong, College of Life Science, Normal University, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, People's Republic of China.
A composite nanomaterial of Prussian blue@gold nanoparticles (PB@Au) with catalytic and photothermal properties was proposed, which combined with anti-matrix interference aptamers to achieve robust specificity and sensitivity in the detection of Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium). The detection probe, PB@Au-Aptamer (PB@Au-Apt), was designed to exhibit high specificity for the target and catalyze the signal generation to produce a color change, thereby enabling rapid detection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Sens
January 2025
Center for Biomedical-photonics and Molecular Imaging, Advanced Diagnostic-Therapy Technology and Equipment Key Laboratory of Higher Education Institutions in Shaanxi Province, School of Life Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710126, China.
Functional nucleic acids constitute a distinct category of nucleic acids that diverge from conventional nucleic acid amplification methodologies. They are capable of forming intricate hybrid structures through Hoogsteen and reverse Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding interactions between double-stranded and single-stranded DNA, thereby broadening the spectrum of DNA interactions. In recent years, functional DNA/RNA-based surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has emerged as a potent platform capable of ultrasensitive and multiplexed detection of a variety of analytes of interest.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNat Commun
January 2025
Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Discovering antigen-reactive T cell receptors (TCRs) is central to developing effective engineered T cell immunotherapies. However, the conventional technologies for isolating antigen-reactive TCRs (i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!