title: Mutational analysis of a signaling aptamer suggests a mechanism for ligand-triggered structure-switching.
abstract: Structure-switching signaling aptamers are nucleic acids that change shape upon binding to a specific ligand. Previously, we applied a new in vitro selection strategy to isolate structure-switching RNA aptamers responsive to the aminoglycoside antibiotic tobramycin. Here, we report the results of mutational analysis, secondary structure modeling, and ligand-specificity studies that suggest a mechanism for tobramycin-triggered structure switching.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, United States Naval Academy, 572M Holloway Road, Annapolis, MD 21402, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Vandenengel
authors.forename: Daniel P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Morse
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D001665:Binding Sites; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005453:Fluorescence; D008024:Ligands; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014031:Tobramycin / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D008024:Ligands; D012313:RNA; D014031:Tobramycin