| Title | [Protocol] Development of DNA aptamers specific for small therapeutic peptides using a modified SELEX method |
|---|---|
| Author | Jaemin Lee1, Minkyung Ryu1,2, Dayeong Bae1,2, Hong-Man Kim1,2, Seong-il Eyun1, Jeehyeon Bae2,3*, and Kangseok Lee1,2* |
| Address | 1Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea, 2NES biotechnology, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea, 3Department of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Republic of Korea |
| Bibliography | Journal of Microbiology, 60(7),659-667, 2022, |
| DOI | 10.1007/s12275-022-2235-4 |
| Key Words | aptamer, antimicrobial peptide, multidrug-resistant bacteria, SELEX, magnetic beads, next-generation sequencing |
| Abstract | Aptamers are short single-stranded DNA or RNA oligonucleotides capable of binding with high affinity and specificity to target molecules. Because of their durability and ease of synthesis, aptamers are used in a wide range of biomedical fields, including the diagnosis of diseases and targeted delivery of therapeutic agents. The aptamers were selected using a process called systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX), which has been improved for various research purposes since its development in 1990. In this protocol, we describe a modified SELEX method that rapidly produces high aptamer screening yields using two types of magnetic beads. Using this method, we isolated an aptamer that specifically binds to an antimicrobial peptide. We suggest that by conjugating a small therapeutic-specific aptamer to a gold nanoparticle-based delivery system, which enhances the stability and intracellular delivery of peptides, aptamers selected by our method can be used for the development of therapeutic agents utilizing small therapeutic peptides. |