title: Targeting of the HPV-16 E7 protein by RNA aptamers.
abstract: The expression of high-risk human papillomavirus E6 and E7 proteins in most cervical tumors raised a considerable interest in the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of functional oligonucleotides (i.e., DNAzymes, ribozymes, and aptamers) directed against HPV targets. Aptamers are short single-stranded oligonucleotides that specifically recognize a wide variety of molecular targets, including HPV proteins. Here, we describe a protocol for the successful isolation of RNA aptamers directed at the recombinant HPV-16 E7 protein through the application of the SELEX method. Once the nucleic acid sequence of a functional aptamer is determined, large amounts of the oligonucleotide can be produced and modified at low cost and high efficiency. The remarkable affinity and specificity of aptamers for their targets make these molecules the next-generation tool for diagnostics and therapeutics of cervical cancer.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Medicina Regenerativa, Dirección de Investigación, Hospital Juárez de México, México, DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Julia Dolores
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Toscano-Garibay
authors.forename: María Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Benítez-Hess
authors.forename: Luis Marat
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Salas
mesh_terms: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000378:metabolism*; D015723:Gene Library; D006801:Humans; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification; D052156:SELEX Aptamer Technique / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D050725:Papillomavirus E7 Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C059731:oncogene protein E7, Human papillomavirus type 16