Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2025
09:33
Phthalic Acid Ester-Binding DNA Aptamer Selection, Characterization, and Application to an Electrochemical Aptasensor
Published on: March 21, 2018
9.8K
Nucleic Acid Aptamers Protect Against Lead (Pb(II)) Toxicity.
Afreen Anwar1,2, Solimar Ramis De Ayreflor Reyes1, Aijaz Ahmad John3
1Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 100 Institute Road, Worcester, MA, 01609, USA.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|April 8, 2024
Summary
DNA and RNA aptamers protect against lead toxicity in model organisms and human cells. These aptamers offer a promising strategy to mitigate health issues from environmental lead exposure.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Toxicology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Lead (Pb(II)) is a widespread environmental toxin causing significant human health issues through cumulative exposure.
- Developing prophylactic strategies to prevent lead bioaccumulation is crucial for reducing lead-associated pathologies.
Approach:
- Investigated the protective effects of DNA and RNA aptamers against lead toxicity in *C. elegans* and human cell lines (HEK293, murine osteoblasts).
- Utilized brood size assays and behavioral analyses in *C. elegans*, and assessed osteogenic development in transfected osteoblasts.
Key Points:
- Co-feeding DNA or RNA aptamers prevented reproductive toxicity and normalized behavioral anomalies in *C. elegans* exposed to lead.
- Transfection with DNA aptamers protected human HEK293 cells and primary murine osteoblasts from lead-induced toxicity.
- DNA aptamers maintained osteogenic development in cells exposed to lead, which is typically inhibited by lead.
Conclusions:
- DNA and RNA aptamers demonstrate efficacy in protecting against lead toxicity across different biological models.
- Aptamers represent a potential therapeutic strategy for safeguarding human health against environmental heavy metal toxicants like lead.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Masking and Demasking Agents
2.4K
EDTA titrations may necessitate masking and demasking agents to temporarily protect a particular metal ion in a mixture from the EDTA reaction. These agents facilitate the sequential analysis of the metal ions by forming stable complexes with some—but not all—metal ions during certain steps.
There are many masking agents, such as cyanide, fluoride, triethanolamine, thiourea, and 2,3-bis(sulfanyl)propan-1-ol (formerly 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanol), with the masking agent chosen based on...
There are many masking agents, such as cyanide, fluoride, triethanolamine, thiourea, and 2,3-bis(sulfanyl)propan-1-ol (formerly 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanol), with the masking agent chosen based on...
2.4K
00:56Extraction: Advanced Methods
446
Metal ions can be separated from one another by complexation with organic ligands–the chelating agent– to form uncharged chelates. Here, the chelating agent must contain hydrophobic groups and behave as a weak acid, losing a proton to bind with the metal. Since most organic ligands used in this process are insoluble or undergo oxidation in the aqueous phase, the chelating agent is initially added to the organic phase and extracted into the aqueous phase. The metal-ligand complex is...
446