Poster abstracts
Poster number 39 submitted by Nicolette Geron
Using Cell-SELEX to Identify Modified DNA Aptamers that Bind E. coli
Nicolette Geron (Department of Chemistry, SIUE), Allie Watts (Department of Chemistry, SIUE), Kamran Shavezipur (Department of Mechanical Engineering, SIUE), Mina Sumita (Department of Chemistry, SIUE)
Abstract:
The process of Cell – SELEX is the Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment. DNA aptamers are selected using a specific target cell. Cell – SELEX will be used to identify modified DNA aptamers that bind with a high affinity to our target cell, Escherichia Coli K12. The modified DNA aptamers will contain deoxyuridine instead of thymidine. It is hypothesized that the modified DNA aptamer will have the stability of traditional DNA and the conformational variety of RNA. The 2’-H in deoxyribose gives DNA more chemical stability than the 2’-OH present in the RNA structure. However, RNA is able to form more conformations due to this structural difference with DNA. Therefore, the aptamers that are identified will have the stability of DNA and the structural variety of RNA providing for a broader selection of aptamers and a higher specificity when binding to E. coli. When we identify the aptamer sequence, we will study the affinity between the aptamer and E. coli.
Keywords: Aptamer, SELEX, Modification