• BMB Reports
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.126-131
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• 2008

The folding of aptamer immobilized on an Au electrode was successfully detected using label-free electrochemical methods. A thrombin binding DNA aptamer was used as a model system in the presence of various monovalent cations. Impedance spectra showed that the extent to which monovalent cations assist in folding of aptamer is ordered as $K^+$ > $NH_4^+$ > $Na^+$ > $Cs^+$. Our XPS analysis also showed that $K^+$ and $NH_4^+$ caused a conformational change of the aptamer in which it forms a stable complex with these monovalent ions. Impedance results for the interaction between aptamer and thrombin indicated that thrombin interacts more with folded aptamer than with unfolded aptamer. The EQCM technique provided a quantitative analysis of these results. In particular, the present impedance results showed that thrombin participates a folding of aptamer to some extent, and XPS analysis confirmed that thrombin stabilizes and induces the folding of aptamer.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제23권6호
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• pp.878-884
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• 2013

Salmonella is a major foodborne pathogen that causes a variety of human diseases. Development of ligands directly and specifically binding to the Salmonella will be crucial for the rapid detection of, and thus for efficient protection from, the virulent bacteria. In this study, we identified a RNA aptamer-based ligand that can specifically recognize Salmonella Typhimurium through SELEX technology. To this end, we isolated and characterized an RNase-resistant RNA aptamer that bound to the OmpC protein of Salmonella Typhimurium with high specificity and affinity ($K_d$ ~ 20 nM). Of note, the selected aptamer was found to specifically bind to Salmonella Typhimurium, but neither to Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) nor to other Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli O157:H7). This was evinced by aptamer-immobilized ELISA and aptamer-linked precipitation experiments. This Salmonella species-specific aptamer could be useful as a diagnostic ligand against pathogen-caused foodborne sickness.

• 분석과학
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.121-139
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• 2014

In this review, we will discuss aptamer technologies including in vitro selection, signal transduction mechanisms, and designing aptamers and aptazyme for label-free biosensors and catalysts. Dye-displacement, a typical label-less method, is described here which allows avoiding relatively complex labeling steps and extending this application to any aptamers without specific conformational changes, in a more simple, sensitive and cost effective way. We will also describe most recent and advanced technologies of signaling aptamer and aptazyme for the various analytical and clinical applications. Quantum dot biosensor (QDB) is explained in detail covering designing and adaptations for multiplexed protein detection. Application to aptamer array utilizing self-assembled signaling aptamer DNA tile and the novel methods that can directly select smart aptamer or aptazyme experimentally and computationally will also be finally discussed, respectively.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.100-104
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• 2012

Thrombin is a serine protease that catalyzes the conversion of soluble fibrinogen to insoluble fibrin, and thus induces physiological and pathological blood coagulation. Therefore, it is important to detect thrombin in blood serum for purposes of diagnosis. To achieve this goal, it has been suggested that a 15-mer aptamer strongly binds with thrombin to form a G-quartet structure of the aptamer. Generally, 5'-end thiol-functionalized aptamer has been used as an anti-thrombin binder. Herein, we evaluate the possibility of utilizing a 3'-SH aptasensor for thrombin detection using SPR spectroscopy, and compare the enhancement of the electrochemical signal of the thrombin-aptamer bound on a porous gold substrate. Although the two aptamers have similar configurations, in SPR analysis, the 3'-SH aptamer was a effective aptasensor as well as 5'-SH aptamer. Results from electrochemical analysis showed that the porous gold substrate acted as a good substrate for an aptasensor and demonstrated 5-fold enhancement of current change, as compared to gold thin film.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.289-295
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• 2024

We have developed an aptamer that specifically binds to Porphyromonas gingivalis to reduce the cellular damage caused by P. gingivalis infection and applied it as a biosensor. P. gingivalis is one of the major pathogens causing destructive periodontal disease among the periodontal microorganisms constituting complex biofilms. Porphyromonas gingivalis G-protein (PGP) known to play an important role in the transmission of germs was used as a target protein for the screening of aptamer. The aptamer that has binds to the G-protein of P. gingivalis, was screened and developed through the Systemic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Energy (SELEX) method. Modified-Western blot analysis was performed with the aptamer which consisted of 38 single-stranded DNA to confirm the selectivity. ELONA (enzyme linked oligonucleotide assay) used to confirm that the aptamer was sensitive to PGP even at low concentration of 1 ㎍/ml. For the rapid detection of P. gingivalis, we constructed a surface plasmon resonance biosensor with SPREETA using the PGP aptamer. It was confirmed that PGP could be detected as low concentration as at 0.1 pM, which is the minimum concentration of aptamer sensor within 5 min. Based on these results, we have constructed a SPREETA biosensor based on aptamer that can bind to P. gingivalis G-protein. It can be used as an infection diagnosis system to rapidly diagnose and analyze oral diseases caused by P. gingivalis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.171-179
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• 2015

Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) expression increases proportionally with prostate cancer progression, making it useful in prognosticating intermediate to high-risk prostate cancers. A novel ligand that can specifically bind to PAP would be very helpful for guiding prostate cancer therapy. RNA aptamers bind to target molecules with high specificity and have key advantages such as low immunogenicity and easy synthesis. Here, human PAP-specific aptamers were screened from a 2'-fluoropyrimidine (FY)-modified RNA library by SELEX. The candidate aptamer families were identified within six rounds followed by analysis of their sequences and PAP-specific binding. A gel shift assay was used to identify PAP binding aptamers and the 6N aptamer specifically bound to PAP with a Kd value of 118 nM. RT-PCR and fluorescence labeling analyses revealed that the 6N aptamer bound to PAP-positive mammalian cells, such as PC-3 and LNCaP. IMR-90 negative control cells did not bind the 6N aptamer. Systematic minimization analyses revealed that 50 nucleotide sequences and their two hairpin structures in the 6N 2'-FY RNA aptamer were equally important for PAP binding. Renewed interest in PAP combined with the versatility of RNA aptamers, including conjugation of anti-cancer drugs and nano-imaging probes, could open up a new route for early theragnosis of prostate cancer.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제27권11호
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• pp.2037-2043
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• 2017

The surface protein hemagglutinin (HA) mediates the attachment of influenza virus to host cells containing sialic acid and thus facilitates viral infection. Therefore, HA is considered as a good target for the development of diagnostic tools for influenza virus. Previously, we reported the isolation of single-stranded aptamers that can distinguish influenza subtype H1 from H5. In this study, we describe a method for the selective electrical detection of H1 using the isolated aptamer as a molecular probe. After immobilization of the aptamer on Si wafer, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) showed that the immobilized aptamer bound specifically to the H1 subtype but not to the H5 subtype. Assessment by cyclic voltammetry (CV) also demonstrated that the immobilized aptamer on the indium thin oxide-coated surface was specifically bound to the H1 subtype only, which was consistent with the ELISA and FE-SEM results. Further measurement of CV using various amounts of H1 subtype provided the detection limit of the immobilized aptamer, which showed that a nanomolar scale of target protein was sufficient to produce the signal. These results indicated that the selected aptamer can be an effective probe for distinguishing the subtypes of influenza viruses by monitoring current changes.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제33권11호
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• pp.3597-3600
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• 2012

Thrombin binding aptamter (TBA-15) is a 15-mer guanine-rich oligonucleotide. This DNA apamer specifically binds to the thrombin protein involved in blood coagulation. Using extensive umbrella sampling molecular dynamics simulation method at all atom level, we investigated the potential of mean force (PMF) upon pulling the DNA aptamer from the binding mode of aptamer/thrombin complex. From this calculation, the free energy cost for a full dissociation of this aptamer/protein complex is 17 kcal/mol, indicating a substantial binding affinity of TBA-15. Interestingly, this PMF reveals noticeable plateau regions along the pulling coordinate. Possible structural changes of this complex in the plateau were investigated in details.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제32권6호
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• pp.2003-2007
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• 2011

We report a highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) platform for the selective trace analysis of mercury (II) ions in drinkable water using aptamer-conjugated silver nanoparticles. Here, an aptamer designed to specifically bind to $Hg^{2+}$ ions in aqueous solution was labelled with a TAMRA moiety at the 5' end and used as a Raman reporter. Polyamine spermine tetrahydrochloride (spermine) was used to promote surface adsorption of the aptamer probes onto the silver nanoparticles. When $Hg^{2+}$ ions are added to the system, binding of $Hg^{2+}$ with T-T pairs results in a conformational rearrangement of the aptamer to form a hairpin structure. As a result of the reduced of electrostatic repulsion between silver nanoparticles, aggregation of silver nanoparticles occurs, and the SERS signal is significantly increased upon the addition of $Hg^{2+}$ ions. Under optimized assay conditions, the concentration limit of detection was estimated to be 5 nM, and this satisfies a limit of detection below the EPA defined limit of 10 nM in drinkable water.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.37-48
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• 2024

Liposomes are one of the most actively studied and promising drug delivery systems for the treatment of various diseases. In this study, an aptamer-conjugated liposome called "aptamosome" was used, in which an anti-PD-L1 aptamer targeting cancer cells was conjugated to the liposome. These aptamosomes showed remarkable cellular uptake and efficient delivery to Lewis lung carcinoma 2 (LL/2) cancer cells. In addition, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi), was delivered through this aptamer to induce a strong anticancer immunotherapeutic effect. The results of this study showed that when LL/2 cells were treated with SAHA-entrapped aptamosome [SAHA] and liposome [SAHA] and free SAHA, aptamosome [SAHA] improved cell death compared with that of liposomes [SAHA] or free SAHA, and it has demonstrated anticancer efficacy. Moreover, aptamosome [SAHA] induce the secretion of chemokines that promote the migration of activated T cells into tumor tissues. Finally, in vivo experiments showed that aptamosome [SAHA] significantly inhibited the growth rate of LL/2 tumors. Therefore, liposomes combined with an anti-PD-L1 aptamer for efficient SAHA delivery are suggested as an excellent model for drug delivery systems suitable for targeting cancer cells.