Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-30T18:56:33.008Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Molecular recognition of amino acids by RNA aptamers: The evolution into an L-tyrosine binder of a dopamine-binding RNA motif

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2000

CECILIA MANNIRONI
Affiliation:
Istituto di Biologia Cellulare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, “Adriano Buzzati-Traverso” Campus, I-00016 Monterotondo Scalo, Rome, Italy
CHIARA SCERCH
Affiliation:
Istituto di Biologia Cellulare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, “Adriano Buzzati-Traverso” Campus, I-00016 Monterotondo Scalo, Rome, Italy
PAOLO FRUSCOLONI
Affiliation:
Istituto di Biologia Cellulare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, “Adriano Buzzati-Traverso” Campus, I-00016 Monterotondo Scalo, Rome, Italy
GLAUCO P. TOCCHINI-VALENTINI
Affiliation:
Istituto di Biologia Cellulare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, “Adriano Buzzati-Traverso” Campus, I-00016 Monterotondo Scalo, Rome, Italy
Get access

Abstract

We report the evolution of an RNA aptamer to change its binding specificity. RNA aptamers that bind the free amino acid tyrosine were in vitro selected from a degenerate pool derived from a previously selected dopamine aptamer. Three independent sequences bind tyrosine in solution, the winner of the selection binding with a dissociation constant of 35 μM. Competitive affinity chromatography with tyrosine-related ligands indicated that the selected aptamers are highly L-stereo selective and also recognize L-tryptophan and L-dopa with similar affinity. The binding site was localized by sequence comparison, analysis of minimal boundaries, and structural probing upon ligand binding. Tyrosine-binding sites are characterized by the presence of both tyrosine (UAU and UAC) and termination (UAG and UAA) triplets.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2000 RNA Society

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)