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Title: Optimization of RNA Pepper Sensors for the Detection of Arbitrary RNA Targets
The development of fluorescent light-up RNA aptamers (FLAPs) has paved the way for the creation of sensors to track RNA in live cells. A major challenge with FLAP sensors is their brightness and limited signal-to-background ratio both in vivo and in vitro. To address this, we develop sensors using the Pepper aptamer, which exhibits superior brightness and photostability when compared to other FLAPs. The sensors are designed to fold into a low fluorescence conformation and to switch to a high fluorescence conformation through toehold or loop-mediated interactions with their RNA target. Our sensors detect RNA targets as short as 20 nucleotides in length with a wide dynamic range over 300-fold in vitro, and we describe strategies for optimizing the sensor’s performance for any given RNA target. To demonstrate the versatility of our design approach, we generated Pepper sensors for a range of specific, biologically relevant RNA sequences. Our design and optimization strategies are portable to other FLAPs and offer a promising foundation for future development of RNA sensors with high specificity and sensitivity for detecting RNA biomarkers with multiple applications.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2020039
PAR ID:
10524038
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ;
Corporate Creator(s):
Editor(s):
NA
Publisher / Repository:
American Chemical Society
Date Published:
Journal Name:
ACS Synthetic Biology
Volume:
13
Issue:
2
ISSN:
2161-5063
Page Range / eLocation ID:
498 to 508
Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
fluorescent light-up aptamers RNA sensors toehold switches loop switches
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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