Novel strategies for biomolecular detection based on in vitro transcription of light-up aptamer

Abstract

RNA aptamers are RNA oligonucleotides that are capable of binding to specific target molecules such as metal ions, small molecules, proteins, and whole cells with high affinity and excellent specificity. Due to its advantages including small size, good stability, low cost, wide range of target, short generation time, and long shelf time, they have been utilized as a tool for diagnostics. Especially, light-up RNA aptamers, which could enhance the fluorescence through specifically binding to target fluorogen, have been actively utilized as powerful signaling materials for the biomolecular detection on behalf of TaqMan probes or molecular beacons. In addition, the fluorescence enhancement via light-up RNA aptamers could be further amplified through T7 in vitro transcription reaction, where a large amount of RNA strands is synthesized by the activity of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Therefore, by taking advantage of in vitro transcription of light-up RNA aptamers, we herein developed novel detection strategies for biomolecules, such as enzyme activity, protein, and nucleic acids, showing excellent analytical performances.