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Structural Biology 2018 & STD AIDS 2018
Journal of Genetics and Molecular Biology
|
Volume 2
S e p t e m b e r 0 3 - 0 4 , 2 0 1 8 | B a n g k o k , T h a i l a n d
allied
academies
STD-AIDS AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES
STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY AND PROTEOMICS
&
International Conference on
International Conference on
Joint Event on
J Genet Mol Biol 2018, Volume 2
UTILIZING THE PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL AND STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES
OF SYNTHETIC BIO-RECEPTORS (APTAMERS) FOR THE DEVELOPMENT
OF BIO-SENSORS FOR DIAGNOSTIC APPLICATIONS
Shalen Kumar
Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
D
ouble stranded DNA plays a crucial role in information transfer and evolution. However, in single stranded form, the DNA
molecule is unstable and prefers to stabilize itself by associating with available reactive groups. In 1990, Szostak and Gold
labs independently developed techniques that enables
in vitro
evolution of nucleic acids capable of binding targeted compounds
with high affinity and specificity. The process of generating these functional nucleic acid species (also known as aptamers)
was termed systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). Aptamers have been generated to target a
plethora of molecules ranging from ions to whole cells. However, developing single stranded DNA aptamers capable of binding to
small molecular targets pose some complexities. This talk will elaborate on the intricacies of developing highly selective ssDNA
aptamers capable of binding a plethora of organic small molecules such as estradiol, bisphenol A, triclosan, and glyphosate for
use in a variety of biological and environmental matrices. Once the target binding characteristics of the identified aptamers is
determined, the aptamers unique physical, chemical and structural properties is utilized to develop a variety of sensing platforms
such as Eastern blotting, dynamic light scattering-resistive pulse sensing, gold nanoparticle-based sensing, impedance
spectroscopy, lateral flow, enzyme linked oligonucleotide assay (ELONA) and microfluidic applications. The developed assay
formats reached detection limits as low as femtomolar levels demonstrating the important role aptamers will play in future
diagnostic applications.