Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026
11:14
Primer-Free Aptamer Selection Using A Random DNA Library
Published on: July 26, 2010
Non-SELEX selection of aptamers.
Maxim Berezovski1, Michael Musheev, Andrei Drabovich
1Department of Chemistry, York University, Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3, Canada.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|February 2, 2006
Summary
This study introduces a novel, rapid aptamer selection method without PCR amplification, achieving high affinity in just one hour. This non-SELEX approach accelerates discovery and expands aptamer applications to unamplifiable molecules.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Aptamer selection traditionally uses Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX).
- SELEX involves iterative partitioning and PCR amplification steps, which are time-consuming and limit applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a non-SELEX aptamer selection method.
- To demonstrate the efficiency and speed of this new approach using non-equilibrium capillary electrophoresis of equilibrium mixtures (NECEEM).
Main Methods:
- Utilized NECEEM for partitioning steps without intervening PCR amplification.
- Employed a non-SELEX strategy with repetitive NECEEM partitioning.
- Applied the method to select DNA aptamers against a target protein.
Main Results:
- Achieved over 4 orders of magnitude improvement in DNA library affinity to the target protein in just three NECEEM partitioning steps.
- The resulting aptamer affinity surpassed that from three rounds of NECEEM-based SELEX.
- Completed the entire selection process in only 1 hour, significantly faster than conventional SELEX.
Conclusions:
- Introduced an extremely fast, economical, and efficient non-SELEX aptamer selection method.
- Demonstrated that aptamers may be more abundant than previously thought.
- Opened new avenues for selecting drug candidates from small molecule libraries unsuitable for SELEX.
