title: Evolution and protein packaging of small-molecule RNA aptamers.
abstract: A high-affinity RNA aptamer (K(d) = 50 nM) was efficiently identified by SELEX against a heteroaryldihydropyrimidine structure, chosen as a representative drug-like molecule with no cross reactivity with mammalian or bacterial cells. This aptamer, its weaker-binding variants, and a known aptamer against theophylline were each embedded in a longer RNA sequence that was encapsidated inside a virus-like particle by a convenient expression technique. These nucleoprotein particles were shown by backscattering interferometry to bind to the small-molecule ligands with affinities similar to those of the free (nonencapsidated) aptamers. The system therefore comprises a general approach to the production and sequestration of functional RNA molecules, characterized by a convenient label-free analytical technique.
authors: Department of Chemistry and The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, United States.
authors: Jolene L
authors: JL
authors: Lau
authors: Michael M
authors: MM
authors: Baksh
authors: Jason D
authors: JD
authors: Fiedler
authors: Steven D
authors: SD
authors: Brown
authors: Amanda
authors: A
authors: Kussrow
authors: Darryl J
authors: DJ
authors: Bornhop
authors: Phillip
authors: P
authors: Ordoukhanian
authors: M G
authors: MG
authors: Finn
mesh_terms: D017908:Allolevivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D055029:Inverted Repeat Sequences / Q000235:genetics; D008024:Ligands; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D052156:SELEX Aptamer Technique / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D011743:Pyrimidines