title: Identification of RNA aptamer specific to mutant KRAS protein.
abstract: Mutations in the KRAS gene are required for early occurrence and maintenance of tumorigenesis and are the most frequently found in many types of human malignant diseases. Therefore, approaches targeting RAS function have been proposed for cancer therapy. However, no selective and specific inhibitors of KRAS have yet been developed as anticancer agents. In this study, by employing counter-systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment technique, we identified and characterized an RNA aptamer that specifically bound to mutant KRAS protein with a point mutation in codon 12 of the KRAS gene. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis, surface plasmon resonance measurements, and competitive precipitation experiments showed that the selected aptamer contained activities of specific and high-affinity binding to the mutant KRAS (K(D) approximately 4.04 nM) but much less binding to the wild type (K(D) approximately 227 nM). This RNA aptamer could be useful as a ligand for specific therapeutics and diagnostics against mutant KRAS-mediated cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Nanosensor and Biotechnology, Dankook University, Yongin, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sujin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Seung Ryul
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Young Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ju Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seong-Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D003062:Codon; D017931:DNA Primers; D011905:Genes, ras; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D017354:Point Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance
chemical_list: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D003062:Codon; D017931:DNA Primers