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Updated: Dec 30, 2025

Aptamer-Based Target Detection Facilitated by a 3-Stage G-Quadruplex Isothermal Exponential Amplification Reaction
Published on: October 6, 2022
Specific Binding of a d-RNA G-Quadruplex Structure with an l-RNA Aptamer
Chun-Yin Chan1, Chun Kit Kwok1
1Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Abstract:
G-quadruplex (G4) structures are of general importance in chemistry and biology, such as in biosensing, gene regulation, and cancers. Although a large repertoire of G4-binding tools has been developed, no aptamer has been developed to interact with G4. Moreover, the G4 selectivity of current toolkits is very limited. Herein, we report the first l-RNA aptamer that targets a d-RNA G-quadruplex (rG4). Using TERRA rG4 as an example, our results reveal that this l-RNA aptamer, Ap3-7, folds into a unique secondary structure, exhibits high G4 selectivity and effectively interferes with TERRA-rG4-RHAU53 binding. Our approach and findings open a new door in further developing G4-specific tools for diverse applications.
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