Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 16, 2026
07:55
An Optimized Quantitative Pull-Down Analysis of RNA-Binding Proteins Using Short Biotinylated RNA
Published on: February 17, 2023
5.7K
Tethering in RNA: an RNA-binding fragment discovery tool
Kiet Tran1, Michelle R Arkin2, Peter A Beal3
1Department of Chemistry, University of California, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA. ktutran@ucdavis.edu.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 10, 2015
Summary
Researchers adapted the Tethering technique to study small molecule-RNA interactions. A thiol-modified adenosine analog (ASH) enabled the discovery of a benzotriazole compound with selective binding to specific RNA molecules, aiding therapeutic lead discovery.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Drug Discovery
Background:
- Tethering is a method to study small molecule-protein interactions via disulfide bonds.
- Cysteine residues are commonly used for these disulfide bond reactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To adapt the Tethering technique for studying small molecule binding to RNA.
- To discover novel small molecules with specific binding affinity for RNA targets.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a thiol-containing adenosine analog (ASH) for RNA modification.
- Screened 30 disulfide-containing small molecules for Tethering efficiency with ASH-bearing RNAs (pre-miR21 derived).
- Analyzed adduct formation and selectivity of small molecules for specific RNA sequences.
Main Results:
- Successfully adapted Tethering for RNA applications.
- Identified a benzotriazole-containing compound with prominent adduct formation.
- Demonstrated selectivity of the compound for a specific ASH-bearing RNA.
Conclusions:
- Thiol-modified nucleic acids are viable for discovering RNA-binding molecules.
- This approach facilitates therapeutic compound lead discovery for RNA targets.
- The adapted Tethering method offers a new avenue for RNA-focused drug development.
