Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy as a new method for the investigation of aptamer/target interactions

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy is an attractive tool for monitoring molecular interactions in solution. We report here a new and highly sensitive method for studying the interaction of aptamers with their targets using this technique. In vitro selection technology is a combinatorial method for the generation of nucleic acid receptors (aptamers) that are capable of binding to various target molecules. Using the in vitro selection approach we isolated RNAs which bind to the antibiotic moenomycin with high affinity. The formation of RNA-moenomycin complexes was studied by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy with a tetramethylrhodamine-labeled derivative of moenomycin.