A versatile and highly sensitive homogeneous electrochemical strategy based on the split aptamer binding-induced DNA three-way junction and exonuclease III-assisted target recycling

A photoregulated split aptaswitch for small molecules with improved sensitivity

Here we show the design of a photoregulated split aptaswitch (PSA) for the challenging small-molecule biorecognition and its sensing application.

A novel photosensitive dual-sensor for simultaneous detection of nucleic acids and small chemical molecules

Sensors that can rapidly and specifically detect nucleic acids and chemical molecules can revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of diseases by allowing molecular-level informations to be used during the routine medicines. In this study, we demonstrated a novel dual-sensor that can be used to simultaneously detect any nucleic acids and chemical molecules whose binding aptamers can be found or synthesized. In the developed dual-sensor, the specifically designed PTG (a photosensitive azobenzene derivative carrying one photoisomerizable azobenzene moiety, one threoninol terminal and one guanidinium terminal) molecules are introduced into the unwinding region of two T7 promoters, and two DNA bubbles are introduced upstream of the two T7 promoters. Without the target, the indicating gene in the dual-tensor would not be expressed since the binding with RNAPs (RNA polymerases) cannot melt the T7 promoter for the indicating gene due to the integration of the DNA double strands via the PTG molecules, manifesting the absence of the target nucleic acid and chemical molecule. While with the presence of the target nucleic acid and/or chemical molecule, the indicating gene would be expressed as the T7 promoter contained in the enlarged DNA bubble can be melted and transcribed by the bound RNAPs as the enlarged DNA bubble can help the separation of the two DNA strands, demonstrating the existence of target nucleic acid and/or chemical molecule.

A Fluorescent Split Aptamer for Visualizing RNA-RNA Assembly In Vivo

RNA–RNA assembly governs key biological processes and is a powerful tool for engineering synthetic genetic circuits. Characterizing RNA assembly in living cells often involves monitoring fluorescent reporter proteins, which are at best indirect measures of underlying RNA–RNA hybridization events and are subject to additional temporal and load constraints associated with translation and activation of reporter proteins. In contrast, RNA aptamers that sequester small molecule dyes and activate their fluorescence are increasingly utilized in genetically encoded strategies to report on RNA-level events. Split-aptamer systems have been rationally designed to generate signal upon hybridization of two or more discrete RNA transcripts, but none directly function when expressed in vivo. We reasoned that the improved physiological properties of the Broccoli aptamer enable construction of a split-aptamer system that could function in living cells. Here we present the Split-Broccoli system, in which self-assembly is nucleated by a thermostable, three-way junction RNA architecture and fluorescence activation requires both strands. Functional assembly of the system approximately follows second-order kinetics in vitro and improves when cotranscribed, rather than when assembled from purified components. Split-Broccoli fluorescence is digital in vivo and retains functional modularity when fused to RNAs that regulate circuit function through RNA–RNA hybridization, as demonstrated with an RNA Toehold switch. Split-Broccoli represents the first functional split-aptamer system to operate in vivo. It offers a genetically encoded and nondestructive platform to monitor and exploit RNA–RNA hybridization, whether as an all-RNA, stand-alone AND gate or as a tool for monitoring assembly of RNA–RNA hybrids.