Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026
08:09
Mapping the Binding Site of an Aptamer on ATP Using MicroScale Thermophoresis
Published on: January 7, 2017
Using azobenzene incorporated DNA aptamers to probe molecular binding interactions
Joseph A Phillips1, Haipeng Liu, Meghan B O'Donoghue
1Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-7200, United States.
Bioconjugate Chemistry
|January 21, 2011
Summary
Researchers developed novel DNA/RNA aptamer probes with two structural states using azobenzene. This allows for studying target-aptamer interactions by analyzing binding affinity changes, enabling new therapeutic applications.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Rational design of DNA/RNA aptamers as molecular probes requires understanding structure-function relationships.
- Aptamer-target binding is influenced by aptamer structural conformation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a method for creating aptamer probes capable of adopting two distinct structural states.
- To elucidate target-aptamer binding interactions by analyzing differences in binding affinity between these states.
Main Methods:
- Incorporation of azobenzene into DNA strands to photoregulate DNA duplex melting.
- Utilizing light-regulated conformational changes of azobenzene in aptamers to analyze secondary structure's role in target binding.
Main Results:
- Azobenzene-modified aptamers maintained target selectivity.
- Binding affinity varied based on the number, position, and conformation of azobenzene modifications.
Conclusions:
- Aptamer probes can be designed to switch binding affinity on demand.
- This controllable binding affinity has potential applications in targeted drug delivery and photodynamic therapy.
Related Concept Videos
03:31Labeling DNA Probes
DNA probes are fragments of DNA labeled with a reporter tag to enable their detection or purification. The resulting labeled DNA probes can then hybridize to target nucleic acid sequences through complementary base-pairing, and may be used to recover or identify these regions.
Radioisotopes, fluorophores, or small molecule binding partners like biotin or digoxigenin, are the most widely used reporter tags for labeling DNA probes. These labels can be attached to the probe DNA molecule via...
Radioisotopes, fluorophores, or small molecule binding partners like biotin or digoxigenin, are the most widely used reporter tags for labeling DNA probes. These labels can be attached to the probe DNA molecule via...
02:34DNA Microarrays
Microarrays are high-throughput and relatively inexpensive assays that can be automated to analyze large quantities of data at a time. They are used in genome-wide studies to compare gene or protein expression under two varied conditions, such as healthy and diseased states. Microarrays consist of glass or silica slides on which probe molecules are covalently attached through surface functionalization. Most commonly, the slides are prepared through the chemisorption of silanes to silica...