Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026

Aptamer-Based Target Detection Facilitated by a 3-Stage G-Quadruplex Isothermal Exponential Amplification Reaction
Published on: October 6, 2022
Dynamic isolation and unloading of target proteins by aptamer-modified microtransporters
Jahir Orozco1, Susana Campuzano, Daniel Kagan
1Department of Nanoengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA.
Abstract:
We describe here a new strategy for isolating target proteins from complex biological samples based on an aptamer-modified self-propelled microtube engine. For this purpose, a thiolated thrombin or a mixed thrombin-ATP aptamer (prehybridized with a thiolated short DNA) was coassembled with mercaptohexanol onto the gold surface of these microtube engines. The rapid movement of the aptamer-modified microtransporter resulted in highly selective and rapid capture of the target thrombin, with an effective discrimination against a large excess of nontarget proteins. Release of the captured thrombin can be triggered by the addition of ATP that can bind and displace the immobilized mixed thrombin-ATP aptamer in 20 min. The rapid loading and unloading abilities demonstrated by these selective microtransporters are illustrated in complex matrixes such as human serum and plasma. The new motion-driven protein isolation platform represents a new approach in bioanalytical chemistry based on active transport of proteins and offers considerable promise for diverse diagnostic applications.
Related Concept Videos
Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Site-Targeted
Overview of Protein Sorting and Transport
Protein sorting can be of two types: signal-based sorting and vesicle-based trafficking. In signal-based sorting, specific amino acid sequences called sorting signals target proteins to the proper location inside the cell either via gated transport or by protein translocation. In gated transport, folded...
Tail-anchoring of Proteins in the ER Membrane
Carrier-Mediated Transport
Active transport involves two types of membrane-spanning transporters: uptake and efflux. Uptake transporters are expressed in the small...
Translocation of Proteins into the Mitochondria
Sorting of outer membrane proteins:
Mitochondrial outer membrane proteins are of two types: the transmembrane, beta-barrel porins, and the membrane-anchored, alpha-helical proteins. Beta-barrel porin precursors are translocated by the TOM complex and inserted into the outer mitochondrial membrane by the SAM complex. In contrast,...
Regulated mRNA Transport

