• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.660-664
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• 2005

We have previously isolated specific RNA aptamers with high affinity against the helicase domain of hepatitis C virus (HCV) nonstructural protein 3 (NS3). The RNA aptamers competitively and efficiently inhibited the helicase activity, partially impeding HCV replicon replication in human hepatocarcinoma cells. In this study, the RNA aptamers were tested for binding to the HCV NS3 proteins in eukaryotic cells, using a yeast three-hybrid system. The aptamers were then recognized by the HCV NS3 proteins when expressed in the cells, while the antisense sequences of the aptamers were not. These results suggest that the in vitro selected RNA aptamers can also specifically bind to the target proteins in vivo. Consequently, they could be potentially utilized as anti-HCV lead compounds.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제16권10호
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• pp.1634-1639
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• 2006

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-encoded nonstructural protein 5B (NS5B) possesses RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity, which is considered essential for viral proliferation. Thus, HCV NS5B is a good therapeutic target protein for the development of anti-HCV agents. In this study, we isolated two different kinds of nuclease-resistant RNA aptamers with 2'-fluoro pyrimidines against the HCV NS5B from a combinatorial RNA library with 40 nucleotide random sequences, using SELEX technology. The isolated RNA aptamers were observed to specifically and avidly bind the HCV NS5B with an apparent $K_d$ of 5 nM and 18 nM, respectively, in contrast with the original RNA library that hardly bound the target protein. Moreover, these aptamers could partially inhibit RNA synthesis of the HCV subgenomic replicon when transfected into Huh-7 hepatoma cell lines. These results suggest that the RNA aptamers selected in vitro could be useful not only as therapeutic agents of HCV infection but also as a powerful tool for the study of the HCV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase mechanism.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제16권7호
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• pp.1149-1153
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• 2006

In this study, nuclease-resistant RNA aptamers that are specific for Jurkat T leukemia cells were selected by a subtractive systemic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) method. A randomized nuclease-resistant RNA library was incubated with normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in each round to preclude RNAs that recognize the common cellular components on the surface of normal and cancer cells. The precluded RNAs were used for the selection of Jurkat T cell-specific aptamers, and the specific RNAs were then gradually enriched from start to the following selections. After 16 rounds of the subtractive SELEX, the selected aptamers were found to preferentially bind to Jurkat T cells, but not to the normal PBMC, evidenced by fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. Thus, the subtractive SELEX can be used to identify ligands to cancer-specific biological markers without prior knowledge of the nature of markers. The aptamers could be applied to specific cell sorting, tumor therapy, and diagnosis, and moreover, to find cancer cell-specific markers.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제30권8호
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• pp.1827-1831
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• 2009

Ligand molecules that can recognize and interact with cancer cell surface marker proteins with high affinity and specificity should greatly aid the development of novel cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. HER-2/ErbB2/Neu (HER-2), a member of the epidermal growth factor receptor family, is specifically overexpressed on the surface of breast cancer cells and serves as both a useful biomarker and a therapeutic target for breast cancer. In this study, we aimed to isolate RNA aptamers that specifically bind to a HER-2-overexpressing human breast cancer cell line, SK-BR-3, using Cell-SELEX strategy. The selected aptamers showed strong affinity to SK-BR-3, but not to MDAMB- 231, a HER-2-underexpressing breast cancer cell line. In addition, we confirmed the specific targeting of HER-2 receptor by aptamers using an unrelated mouse cell line overexpressing human HER-2 receptor. The HER-2-targeting RNA aptamers could become a useful reagent for the development of breast cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.

• 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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• 제25권3호
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• pp.393-398
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• 2015

Aptamers are composed of single-stranded oilgonucleotides that can selectively bind desired molecules. It has been reported that RNA or DNA could act as not only a genetic messenger but also a catalyst in metabolic pathways. RNA aptamers (average sizes 40-50 bp) are smaller than antibodies and have strong binding capacities to target molecules, similar to antigenantibody interactions. Once an aptamer was selected, it can be readily produced in large quantities at low cost. The objectives of this study are to screen and develop aptamers specific to oral pathogens such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Streptococcus mutans. The bacterial cell pellet was fixed with formaldehyde as a target molecule for the screening of aptamers. The SELEX method was used for the screening of aptamers and a modified western blot analysis was used to verify their specificities. Through SELEX, 40 kinds of aptamers were selected and the specificity of the aptamers to the bacterial cells was confirmed by modified western blot analysis. Through the SELEX method, 40 aptamers that specifically bind to oral pathogens were screened and isolated. The aptamers showed possibility as effective candidates for the detection agents of oral infections.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제42권10호
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• pp.721-728
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• 2019

Non-structural protein 1 (NS1) of influenza virus has been shown to inhibit the innate immune response by blocking the induction of interferon (IFN). In this study, we isolated two single-stranded RNA aptamers specific to NS1 with $K_d$ values of $1.62{\pm}0.30nM$ and $1.97{\pm}0.27nM$, respectively, using a systematic evolution of ligand by exponential enrichment (SELEX) procedure. The selected aptamers were able to inhibit the interaction of NS1 with tripartite motif-containing protein 25 (TRIM25), and suppression of NS1 enabled retinoic acid inducible gene I (RIG-I) to be ubiquitinated regularly by TRIM25. Additional luciferase reporter assay and quantitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR) experiments demonstrated that suppression of NS1 by the selected aptamers induced IFN production. It is noted that viral replication was also inhibited through IFN induction in the presence of the selected aptamers. These results suggest that the isolated aptamers are strongly expected to be new therapeutic agents against influenza infection.

• 대한화학회지
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• 제46권2호
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• pp.157-163
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• 2002

$tRNA^{Val}$에 결합하는 RNA 요소들을 확인하기 위해 SELEX 방법을 수행하였다. 양끝에 보존된 primer 서열을 가지고 가운데 무작위의 48-mer 올리고 누클레오티드 영역을 가진 DNA 문고를 T7 RNA 중합효소를 이용하여 전사시켜 얻은 RNA pool을 가지고 $tRNA^{Val}$이 고정된 affinity column을 이용하여 14번의 선별 과정을 거쳐 FNA aptamer들을 선별하였다. 몇몇 aptamer들은 세 가지 rRNA들의 고리 영역에 있는 서열과 유사한 서열을 가졌다: 5S rRNA의 C43GAAC47 서열, 16S rRNA의 G1491AAGU1495와 G1379UUCC1383 서열 그리고 23S rRNA의 C1064UUAG1068, G2110UGUA2114, C2480GACGG2485와 A2600CAGU2604 서열. 이 결과들은 $tRNA^{Val}$가 리보솜에서 5S rRNA, 16S rRNA 및 23S rRNA와 다양하게 상호작용 할 수 있다는 것을 암시한다.

• KSBB Journal
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.88-92
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• 2005

인산화 과정은 serine, threonine, tyrosine에서 발생하는 생화학적 반응으로, 본 연구에서는 다양한 응용의 잠재능력이 있는 phosphoserine, phosphothreonine, phosphotyrosine에 대한 엡타머를 개발하였다. 우선 in vitro selection 방법에 의해 combinatorial chemistry로부터 얻어진 RNA library로부터 이들 phosphoamino acids와 친화도를 가지고 있는 엡타머를 찾아낼 수 있었다. 총 10번의 일련 과정을 통해 phosphoserine에 대해서 2.6 nM의 친화도를 가지고 있는 엡타머를 (SeA-06), phosphothreonine에 대해서는 2.7nM의 친화도를 가지고 있는 엡타머 (TrA-18)를 찾아낼 수 있었고, 이들의 RNA 2차 구조를 각각 예측하여 보았다. 그러나 phosphotyrosine의 경우 짧은 길이의 엡타머가 selection됨으로 내부적으로 구조를 가지는 엡타머는 얻을 수 없었다. o-phosphoserine에 대한 항체가 기존에 보고가 되었으나 유사한 구조를 지닌 o-phosphothreonine에도 비슷한 활성을 보여 이들을 구분할 수 있는 리간드를 찾기 힘들었으나, 본 연구에서는 엡타머를 사용한 특이성 조사에서도 서로를 극명하게 구별할 수 있음을 확인할 수 있었다. 이와 같이 발굴된 엡타머를 사용하여 biochip이나 Proteomics 분석 도구의 응용에 큰 기대효과를 제공할 수 있을 것이라 사료된다.

• 대한화학회지
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• 제65권2호
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• pp.121-124
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• 2021

RNA molecules which bind to the G-rich sequence in the 5'-UTR RNA which plays an important role in expression of N-ras, were selected. The secondary structures of five selected RNA aptamers including primer sequence were found by the CLC RNA workbench ver. 4.2 program (www.clcbio.com) and investigated with RNA structural probes such as RNase T1 which has specificity for a G in single-stranded region, RNase V1 specific for double strand and nuclease S1 specific for single strand. The generalized secondary structure model was proposed and characterized. It was composed of a central long double strand region flanked by single strand region at both end sides. The double strand region had an internal single-strand region and bulges. The single strand loop in the right side was composed of four or five nucleotides.