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Published on: August 21, 2018
Systematic Scanning Mutagenesis Unveils the Structure-Function Landscape Enabling Aptamer Evolution
Zhuoer Chen1, Qi Sun1, Xianlu Lei1
1Chongqing Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Freshwater Fishes, College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing401331, China.
Analytical Chemistry
|August 11, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a structure-function landscape to engineer aptamers for improved biosensing. This method enhanced an aptamer’s binding affinity and kinetics, leading to a 40-fold increase in tetracycline detection sensitivity.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Aptamers are crucial for biosensing and therapeutics.
- Engineering aptamers to link structure with function is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- Introduce a structure-function landscape for aptamer engineering.
- Improve aptamer performance for enhanced biosensing applications.
Main Methods:
- Systematic single-point mutagenesis to create a structure-function landscape.
- Combinatorial mutagenesis guided by the landscape to engineer aptamers.
- Assessing binding affinity, kinetics, and sensing performance.
Main Results:
- Identified critical binding sites and variable regions in the OTC2 aptamer landscape.
- Engineered OTC2M1 aptamer with enhanced affinity and binding kinetics.
- Achieved a 40-fold improvement in tetracycline detection sensitivity using OTC2M1.
Conclusions:
- The structure-function landscape provides an accessible platform for rational aptamer engineering.
- This approach can guide the development of high-performance aptamer-based biosensors.
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