Investigations toward the selection of fully-modified 4′-thioRNA aptamers: Optimization of in vitro transcription steps in the presence of 4′-thioNTPs
作者:Noriaki Minakawa、Mioko Sanji、Yuka Kato、Akira Matsuda
DOI:10.1016/j.bmc.2008.09.048
日期:2008.11
We describe herein a method for isolating fully-modified 4 '-thioRNA aptamers against human alpha-thrombin using the SELEX protocol. In order to isolate the desired aptamers, in vitro transcription was examined in the presence of four kinds of 4 '-thioribonucleoside triphosphates (4 '-thioNTPs) in an effort to afford the fully-modified 4 '-thioRNA. The transcription efficiency of the 4 '-thioNTPs was first compared with that of the nucleoside 5 '-(alpha-thio)triphosphates (alpha SNTPs) and found to be less effective than that of the aSNTPs, especially when GTP and/or ATP were substituted for 4 '-thioGTP and/or 4 '-thioATP. Further attempts to improve its efficiency, including the use of a mutant RNA polymerase instead of the wild type, various additives, and 4 '-thioNTP concentrations were unsuccessful. Accordingly, the transcription was performed in the presence of 4 '-thioNTPs together with the natural GTP and ATP at the appropriate concentrations. Although this attempt furnished a highly-modified 4 '-thioRNA, but not a fully-modified 4 '-thioRNA, we eventually succeeded in isolating the fully-modified 4 '-thioRNA aptamers by SELEX using optimized transcription conditions, followed by post-modification of the resulting aptamers. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.