Molecular Recognition of Amino Acids by RNA

Abstract

The aim of the authors is to obtain RNA aptamers with affinity for structurally related amino acids. Starting with a pool originating from a selected RNA sequence which has undergone subsequent mutagenesis the authors plan to re-select the doped pool for binding to related amino acids. An example of cumulative selections is citrulline-binding RNA which binds to citrulline highly selectively in soln. All of the selected aptamers which were sequences share a consensus element of 15 nucleotides embedded in a common secondary structure. By introducing mutations to one of these selected aptamers and re-selecting for binding to arginine, an RNA pool with affinity for arginine was isolated. These arginine-specific aptamers have lost their ability to bind citrulline. [on SciFinder (R)]