Aptamers 2014 was our first international meetings at Oxford that brought together the aptamer community from both academia and industry and solution providers. The meeting was chaired by Professor Said Ismail (University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan) and also witnessed the launch of The International Society on Aptamers, which will provide a dedicated platform and a focal point to aptamer researchers and industrial partners for interaction and collaboration. Based on the excellent success of Aptamers 2014, we are pleased to announce our second annual symposium on Aptamers, Aptamers 2015, which will be held at St Hilda’s College on 31 March – 01 April 2015. The symposium will be co-hosted with our first symposium on antisense and catalytic nucleic acids, Oligomer 2015.
9am: Professor Dr Jean-Jacques Toulmé (Inuagural Keynote Address)
ARNA Laboratory, Inserm U869, European Institute of Chemistry and Biology, University of Bordeaux, Pessac, France
Title: Aptamers: a world of structural and functional diversity
Abstract: Aptamers are oligonucleotides identified in large randomly synthesized libraries containing up to 1015 different oligomers, through in vitro selection, a process known as SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponantial enrichment). Aptamers have been successfully raised against a wide range of targets: amino acids, nucleic acid bases, proteins, intact viruses and live cells. They generally display a high efficiency of binding thanks to their 3D shape resulting from intramolecular interactions. We raised aptamers against many different target molecules, such as foldamers or biomarkers of human tumors…
9.45am: Dr Axel Vater
Vice President Drug Discovery, NOXXON Pharma AG, Germany
Title: The integration of chiral principles into the SELEX process – Development of Spiegelmer therapeutics
Abstract: The SELEX process is a powerful technology to identify oligonucleotide-based aptamers to targets. In order to avoid stability issues with aptamers, we have adopted the SELEX process to first identify an aptamer against the non-natural enantiomer of a given target. The corresponding enantiomer to the aptamer, i.e. an aptamer consisting of non-natural, mirror-image nucleotides, will then consequently recognize the natural selection target. These mirror-image aptamers, also called a Spiegelmers, display very high biological stability. The mirror-image nature of Spiegelmer…
10.10: Dr Vittorio de Franciscis
Research Director CNR, Istituto per l’Endocrinologia e l’Oncologia Sperimentale del CNR “G. Salvatore”, Naples, Italy
Title: Multi-functional aptamer-miRNA conjugates for targeted cancer therapy
Abstract: An emerging class of therapeutic inhibitors is now represented by short nucleic acid aptamers.We have recently generated and characterized two 2’fluoro-pyrimidines modified RNA aptamers, named GL21.T and Gint4.T, that bind to and antagonize human Axl tyrosine kinase receptor and PDGFRβ, respectively. These molecules act as high affinity ligands with several advantages over conventional antibodies for their use in vivo, including their small size and negligible immunogenicity. These aptamers also rapidly internalized into target cells, getting about 30% of cell internalization…
11.15: Professor Said Ismail
Head, Molecular Biology Research Laboratory, Medical School, University of Jordan, and Head, Molecular Diagnostics Lab, Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan
Title: Aptamers: Promising Molecules for Cancer Stem Cell Targeting
Abstract: The term Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) has been coined to refer to a subpopulation of tumor cells that has the ability to self-renew and to generate the diverse cell pool of a given tumor. In recent years, CSCs have been receiving a great research interest due to their cancer initiating and maintaining capabilities making them the real driving force within a malignant mass that pushes towards more aggressive proliferation and more resistance against anticancer drugs. The cell surface glycoprotein CD44 is one of the most common surface markers used to identify CSCs. Our lab has been able to isolate RNA aptamers…
11.40: Dr Sarah Shigdar
Lecturer in Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Australia
Title: Aptamers as effective cancer stem cell targeting modalities (co-authors: Sarah Shigdar, Dongxi Xiang, Wei Duan)
Abstract: Aptamers are becoming known for their ability to replace other agents, such as antibodies, in diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Within cancer research, aptamers can be very versatile molecules, capable of being used for in vitro diagnostic applications, therapeutics and in vivo molecular imaging. Having generated an aptamer against the cancer cell marker, EpCAM, we sought to develop this aptamer into a smart drug delivery vehicle. Using a common chemotherapeutic, doxorubicin, we intercalated this drug into the stem of the aptamer and tested its effectiveness to…
12.05: Professor Peter Stockley
Leeds University, UK
Title: Using aptamers to unmask the multi-tasking roles of viral RNAs
Abstract: In vivo ssRNA viruses co-assembly their protein (nucleo)-capsids spontaneously around genomic RNA, at very low concentrations, and with great fidelity in terms of selectivity, speed, accuracy, yield and timing. I will describe the latest results that indicate that genomic RNAs can play significant roles in regulating these processes via a series of RNA-CP interactions. SELEX has been used to identify these putative packaging signal (PS) sites, uncovering a novel anti-viral drug target…
12.30: Dr Meltem Avci-Adali
Wendel Laboratory, Department of Thoracic, Cardiac, and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
Title: Use of stem cell specific aptamers for in vivo tissue engineering (Co-authors: M. Avci-Adali, N. Perle, H. Stoll, N. Wilhelm, C. Schlensak, Hans P Wendel)
Abstract: Aptamers are not only auspicious ligands for small molecules, peptides, and proteins, but also for whole living cells, such as stem cells or cancers cells. Using cell SELEX including counter selections with non-target cells, stem cell specific aptamers can be selected. Thus, a great advantage of cell SELEX is that it is not necessary to know the target on stem cells during the selections. The target can be identified after the enrichment of aptamers and thereby, new up to now unknown markers on stem cells…
14.00: Dr David Bunka (Keynote Address)
Aptamer Group, UK
Title: Aptamers coming of age and their application in biomarker discovery
Abstract: Over the last 20+ years there have been significant developments in the field of aptamer based research, largely lead by academic institutions. More recently the uptake and development of aptamer based technologies has exploded, leading to the broad application of aptamers across almost all sectors of the life sciences; including areas such as research applications and novel reagents, diagnostics & biosensors, therapeutics, drug discovery & biomarker discovery. The continued ‘push’ towards early diagnosis and disease prevention, improved stratification of patient populations, personalised medicine and drug regime monitoring…
14.45: Professor Anne Varenne
Professor at Chimie ParisTech, Unité de Technologies Chimiques et Biologiques pour la Santé, Chimie ParisTech, Université Paris Descartes, UMR CNRS 8151, INSERM U1022, France
Title: Aptamers and analytical sciences for the development of challenging diagnostics
Abstract: Aptamers, considered as a nucleic acid version of antibodies and therefore as serious rivals to them, could be widely employed as sensitive affinity probes, diagnosis agents and biomedical research tools. For this purpose, a deep cooperation occurs between aptamers and analytical sciences, going from the development of analytical methods for aptamer selection and characterization, to the use of aptamers for improving diagnostics, as we will first present. We developed electrophoretic methods for aptamer characterization in solution…
15.10: Professor Ciara O’Sullivan
Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Spain
Title: High affinity truncated aptamer against the anaphylatic toxin ß-conglutin (Lup-an-1)
Abstract: Lupin is an herbaceous plant of the leguminous family, belonging to the genus Lupinus and has recently been added to the list of allergens requiring mandatory advisory labelling on foodstuffs sold in the European Union, and since December 2008, all products containing even trace amounts of lupin must be labeled correctly as it has been reported that lupin produces a variety of different allergic responses, including anaphylaxis. Lupin globulins consist of two major globulins called α-conglutin and ß-conglutin and another additional two-globulins, γ-conglutin and δ-conglutin, with toxicity having been associated primarily with…
15.35: Dr Frédéric Ducongé
CEA, Institut d’imagerie biomédicale, Service Hospitalier Frédéric Joliot, INSERM U1023; université Paris Sud; 4 place du Général Leclerc, 91401, Orsay Cedex, France
Title: Identification of tumor targeting aptamers from cell-SELEX to in vivo molecular imaging
Abstract: An increasing number of aptamers have been selected against biomarkers expressed at the surface of cells. Since 2005, our group and others have been adapting the SELEX against whole living cells. Using this cell-SELEX strategy, we selected several nuclease resistant 2′-Fluoro-pyrimidines (2′-F-Py) RNA aptamers against cell surface biomarkers that can represent surrogate markers of cancer cells. Although these aptamers represent promising tools for in vitro experiments…
16.30: Dr Johanna-Gabriela Walter
Gottfried-Wilhelm-Leibniz Universität Hannover, Institut für Technische Chemie, Hannover, Germany
Title: Aptamers in affinity separeation (co-authors: Johanna-Gabriela Walter, Guohong Zhu, Frank Stahl, Thomas Scheper)
Abstract: Based on their affinity and specificity aptamers can be thought of as nucleic acid-based alternatives to antibodies, which have several advantages over their amino acid-based counterparts. In the context of affinity separation, the main advantages of aptamers are their high stability, the possibility to select aptamers that are functional under desired conditions and to design suitable methods for the elution of the target during the selection process of the aptamer. To demonstrate the applicability of aptamers for the purification of proteins, we have used two different aptamers…
16.55: Dr Beate Strehlitz
Department Centre for Environmental Biotechnology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH – UFZ, Germany
Title: Aptamers for environmental applications (co-authors: Regina Stoltenburg, Christine Reinemann, Beate Strehlitz)
Abstract: At present, the main focus for aptamer applications lies in medical diagnostics and treatment. However, aptamers are also very suitable for environmental analytics and technology. In this context, the aim of our work is mainly the development of DNA aptamers for the detection of emerging pollutants and microbial pathogens. Here we describe exemplarily two DNA aptamers selected for protein A and for fluoroquinolones. Protein A is known as a cell surface protein originally found in the cell wall of the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. The aptamer was selected by…
17.20: Miss Katharina Berg
University of Hamburg, Germany
Title: Stabilized Interleukin-6 receptor binding RNA aptamers (Co-authors: Katharina Berg, Cindy Meyer, Inken Lorenzen, Joachim Grötzinger, Stefan Rose-John & Ulrich Hahn)
Abstract: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine that is involved in the progression of various inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, and certain cancers, for example multiple myeloma or hepatocellular carcinoma. To interfere with IL-6 dependent diseases, targeting IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) presenting tumor cells using aptamers might be a valuable strategy to broaden established IL-6 or IL-6R directed treatment regimens. Recently, we reported on the in vitro selection of RNA aptamers binding to the human IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) with nanomolar affinity…
17.35: Miss Feriel Melaine
SPrAM, UMR 5819 (CEA-CNRS-UJF-Grenoble 1), INAC/CEA-Grenoble, 38054 Grenoble cedex 9, France
Title: Aptamer biosensor for small molecules detection using Surface Plasmon Resonance imaging(co-authors: Feriel Melaine, Yoann Roupioz and Arnaud Buhot)
Abstract: Aptamers are single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or RNA molecules capable of binding to target molecules, including proteins, metal ions and drugs. Because of their specific binding abilities and many advantages over antibodies (higher stability, lower cost, easy chemical modification…), they provide a great opportunity to produce sensing surfaces for effective and selective detection of small molecules. Surface Plasmon Resonance imaging (SPRi) has become one of the most widely used label-free method for the study of biorecognition events on sensor surfaces. This technique…
17.50: Miss Katharina Urmann
Department of Biotechnology and Food Engineering – Technion Haifa, Israel
Title: Porous silicon-based aptasensors (co-authors: Katharina Urmann, Ester Segal, Johanna Walter, Thomas Scheper)
Abstract: A label-free and reagentless optical biosensing platform based on nanostructured porous silicon and two different model aptamers is presented in this work. Nucleic-acid aptamers have attracted intense interest due to their many advantages as recognition elements in biosensing when compared to traditional antibodies. Herein, aptamers directed against the Fc-fragment of human Immunoglobulin G as well as an aptamer against his-tag are successfully used as recognition elements in a simple optical biosensor…
16.05: Dr Shashi Gupta
SomaLogic Inc, Wilderness Place, Boulder, CO, USA
Title: SOMAmers inhibit IL-6 signaling by blocking its interaction with IL-6 Ra and gp130 receptors
Abstract: We recently described a new class of aptamers called SOMAmers (Slow Off-rate Modified Aptamers) containing modified nucleotides with functional groups absent in natural DNA. These modifications mediate hydrophobic interactions between SOMAmers and their targets, leading to significant improvements in binding affinity and slower off-rates. Here, we describe the discovery and characterization of…
8.30: Dr Mark Behlke
Chief Scientific Officer, Integrated DNA Technologies, USA
Title: Use of hybridization “stick” methods to attach aptamer and cargo: design considerations
Abstract: Aptamers can be employed as a targeting ligand to deliver therapeutic cargoes to specific cell types. Nucleic acid cargoes can be directly built into the aptamer at the time of synthesis or, alternatively, can be attached after synthesis using reactive chemistries or by hybridization to a dangling “stick” domain. The “stick” approach permits attachment of a variety of cargoes to the aptamer in a reversible fashion. However, addition of the complementary “anti-stick” sequence to the cargo can have unintended consequences, including reduced potency of both siRNAs or ASOs. Design considerations will be discussed.
8.55: Dr Michael Blank
CSO, AptaIT GmbH, Munich, Germany
Title: Bringing light into the black box of SELEX experiments
Abstract: We demonstrate a software-driven procedure harnessing the statistical power given by giant Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) data sets obtained from in vitro selection experiments. The combination of in vitro selection experiments with NGS and in silico analysis enables improved analysis of enriched libraries in terms of (i) identification in very early selection cycles as well (ii) identification of rare aptamer ligands (which are not accessible by the conventional approach), (iii) identification of ligands with the desired binding properties, as well as (iv) identification of aptamers in…
9.20: Dr. Thomas Schubert
CEO, 2bind GmbH, Regensburg, Germany
Title: Fast and quantitative analysis of aptamer-target interactions using microscale thermophoresis
Abstract: Microscale thermophoresis (MST) is a powerful, novel technique to determine binding affinities of molecular interactions. Furthermore, the specificity, selectivity and additional biophysical parameters of molecular interactions can be evaluated. The technology is perfectly suited to study aptamer-target interactions. The binding of candidate aptamers to any target from small molecule to multi-protein complex can be analyzed in solution, with low sample consumption, at high sensitivity and accuracy. The free choice of buffers (from SELEX binding buffer to serum), in combination with a large dynamic range of detection…
9.45: Professor Dr Günter Mayer
University of Bonn, Life and Medical Sciences Institute, Gerhard-Domagk-Str. 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
Title: Aptamer modules and assemblies for exogenous control of biomolecule function
Abstract: Aptamers are single chained nucleic acids that specifically recognize target molecules with high affinities. They can be truncated into short but correctly folded and functional structures. Inspired by nature these properties predestine them to be employed for the assembly of multivalent architectures built on individual functional units. These architectures reveal superior biological functions in respect of target recognition and inhibition and qualifies aptamers as very interesting tools for synthetic biology and biomedical applications. Since the activity of aptamers can be exogenously controlled by light they also provide means for the spatiotemporal control of biological processes.
10.50: Professor Beatrix Suess
Professor, TU Darmstadt, Department of Synthetic Biology, Darmstadt, Germany
Title: Mechanistic Insights into Engineered Riboswitches
Abstract: One of the most interesting areas of Synthetic Biology is the control of cellular behaviour using engineered genetic circuits. Genes with selected features are combined in a building-block manner and transfered to organisms of interest to achieve the desired biological functions. However, the expression level of the corresponding genes must be regulated and fine-tuned to avoid unbalanced gene expression and the accumulation of toxic intermediates. In order to achieve this, a versatile set of RNA-based control devices, so called engineered riboswitches, have been developed combining the…
11.15: Dr Mark Platt
Lecturer in Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Centre for Analytical Science, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK
Title: Monitoring Aptamer-Protein Interactions using Tunable Resistive Pulse Sensing(co-authors: Emily R. Billinge, Murray Broom and Mark Platt)
Abstract: Aptamers are short single-stranded pieces of DNA or RNA capable of binding to analytes with specificity and high affinity. Due to their comparable selectivity, stability and cost, over the last two decades aptamers have started to challenge antibodies in their use on many technology platforms. The binding event often leads to changes in the aptamers secondary and tertiary structure; monitoring such changes has led to the creation of many new analytical sensors. Here we demonstrate the use of a tunable resistive pulse sensing (TRPS) technology to monitor the interaction between several DNA aptamers…
11.40: Mr Martin Michael Rudolph
Department of Biology, Technical University Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstr. 10, Darmstadt, Germany
Title: In vitro Selection of RNA Aptamers against Photoswitchable Molecules (Co authors: Martin Michael Rudolph, Thomas Halbritter, Alexander Heckel and Beatrix Suess)
Abstract: Aptamers are nucleic acids that are capable of binding a great variety of ligands with high affinity and specificity. Naturally occurring RNA aptamers reside in a number of bacterial 5’-UTRs where they represent recognition elements of riboswitches. Here, a binding event results in a conformational change that in turn is converted into a biological signal. About a decade before aptamers were discovered in living organisms, an in vitro selection process was invented to generate aptamers by directed evolution (SELEX – Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment). Since then many efforts…
11.55: Mr Shashank Sharma
Glycoscience Group, National Centre for Biomedical Engineering and Science (NCBES), National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland
Title: Aptamer selection for specific recognition of non-human sialic acid: n-glycolyl neuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) (Co-authors: Shashank Sharma, Hsien-Yu Tsai, Satbir Kaur Gill, Marian Kane, Lokesh Joshi)
Abstract: Aptamers are nucleic acids that are capable of binding a great variety of ligands with high affinity and specificity. Naturally occurring RNA aptamers reside in a number of bacterial
5’-UTRs where they represent recognition elements of riboswitches. Here, a binding event results in a conformational change that in turn is converted into a biological signal. About a decade before aptamers were discovered in living organisms, an in vitro selection process was invented to generate aptamers by directed evolution (SELEX – Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment). Since then many efforts have been made to select RNA aptamers against synthetic molecules and to implement those sequences into functional genetic switches…
Aptamer-quantum dots conjugates-based ultrasensitive competitive electrochemical cytosensor for the detection of tumor cell
Jingjing Li, Mi Xu, Haiping Huang, Jinjun Zhou, ES Abdel-Halim, Jian-Rong Zhang, Jun-Jie Zhu
State Key Lab of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, People’s Republic of China; Petrochemical Research Chair, Chemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, P.O. Box 2455, Kingdom Saudi Arabia; Center for Materials Analysis and Testing, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, 341000, People’s Republic of China
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Functionalizing liposomes with anti-CD44 Aptamer for specific targeted drug delivery into cancer cells
Walhan Alshaer1, Hervé HILLAIREAU1, Juliette VERGNAUD1, Nidaa ABABNEH2, Said ISMAIL2, Elias FATTAL1
1 UMR CNRS 8612, Institut Galien Paris-Sud, Faculté Pharmacie, Université Paris-Sud, 5, rue J-B Clément, 92290 Châtenay-Malabry, France.
2Molecular Biology Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
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Stabilized Interleukin-6 receptor binding RNA aptamers
Katharina Berg, Cindy Meyer, Inken Lorenzen, Joachim Grötzinger, Stefan Rose-John and Ulrich Hahn
University of Hamburg, Department Chemistry, Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 6, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
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A sensitive resistive pulse sensing assay for monitoring aptamer-ligand interactions
Emily Rose Billinge and Mark Platt
Department of Chemistry, Centre for Analytical Science, Loughborough University, Loughborough, LE11 3TU, United Kingdom
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Apta-PCR assay for the detection of Burkitt’s lymphoma related cells via a caged aptamer
Laia Civit1, Alessandro Pinto2, Ciara K. O’Sullivan3, Günter Mayer1
1 Life and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk Str. 1, Bonn, Germany
2 NanoBioSeparations Group, POLYMAT, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Avda. Tolosa 72, San Sebastian, Spain
3 Nanotechnology and Bioanalysis Group, Chemical Engineering Department, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, Tarragona, Spain
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2’-Modified RNA aptamers against insulin-like growth factor I receptor
Anna Davydova1, Maria Vorobjeva1, Jean-Christophe Francois2 and Alya Venyaminova1
1Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Lavrentieva ave. 8, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
2Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine INSERM – UPMC, UMR S 938, 27 rue Chaligny F-75571 PARIS 12
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Fluorescence Polarization detection of D-AMP and derivatives using a new Aptamer-PNA Probe
Emma Goux, Valérie Guieu, Corinne Ravelet, Eric Peyrin
University of Grenoble, Département de pharmacochimie moléculaire 470, rue de la Chimie 38400 St Martin d’Heres
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Aptamer controlled splicing in mammalian cells
Florian Groher, Janina Langner, Beatrix Suess
TU Darmstadt, FB Biologie, Schnittspahnstraße 10, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
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Aptamers Targeting the Mannose Receptor
Silvana Hassel1, Verena Schütte2, Sven Burgdorf2, and Günter Mayer1
1Life and Medical Sciences (LIMES), University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Str. 1, Germany
2Life and Medical Sciences (LIMES), University of Bonn, Carl-Troll-Str. 31, Germany
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Post-SELEX modification of a Streptavidin-Binding Aptamer by LNA- and α-L-LNA-substitutions
Anna S. Jørgensen1, Lykke H. Hansen2, Birte Vester2, Jesper Wengel1*
1 Nucleic Acid Center, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
2 Nucleic Acid Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
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Aptamer-based control of intraneuronal signal transduction
Sabine Lennarz1, Therese Christine Alich2, Heinz Beck2,3, and Günter Mayer1,
1 Life and Medical Sciences (LIMES) Institute, Prog. Unit Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Str.1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
2Laboratory of Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, Department of Epileptology, Sigmund-Freud Str. 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany
3Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen in der Helmholtz Gemeinschaft, Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2, 53175 Bonn, Germany
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Development of aptasensors for biomedical and agri-food applications based on Surface Plasmon Resonance imaging
Elodie Ly-Morin1, Karen Mercier1, Stephen Vance², Marinella Sandros², Gergely Lautner3, Róbert E. Gyurcsányi3 and Chiraz Frydman1
1HORIBA Scientific, Palaiseau, France
2 University of North Carolina, Greesboro, USA
3 Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, Hungary
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In vitro selection of RNA aptamers for the interleukin-6 receptor
Florian Mittelberger1, Cindy Meyer2, Georg Waetzig3, Ulrich Hahn1
1Department of Chemitry, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King-Platz 6, 20146 Hamburg
2Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Laboratory of RNA Molecular Biology, Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, Box 186, New York, NY 10065
3CONARIS Research Institute AG, Schauenburgerstr. 116, 24118 Kiel
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The identification of novel aptamers to glioma
Karl Norris, Lisa Shaw, Jane Elizabeth Alder, Clare Louise Lawrence
University of Central Lancashire, Fylde road, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2HE, UK
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Using microarrays for the evolution of new aptamer sequences, and the exploration of sequence activity relationships
Mark Platt
Department of Chemistry, Centre for Analytical Science, Loughborough University, Loughborough, LE11 3TU, United Kingdom
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An enhanced aptamer sequence as tool for targeted drug delivery: rational engineering of a DNA aptamer against tranferrin receptor
David Porciani1,2, Giovanni Signore2*, Riccardo Nifosì1, Laura Marchetti1, Paolo Mereghetti2 and Fabio Beltram1
1NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore and Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR, Piazza San Silvestro 12 Pisa, 56127, Italy
2Center for Nanotechnology Innovation@NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Piazza San Silvestro 12 Pisa, 56127, Italy
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In vitro selection of RNA aptamers against photoswitchable molecules
Martin Michael Rudolph1, Thomas Halbritter2, Alexander Heckel2,Beatrix Suess1
1Department of Biology, Technical University Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstr. 10, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
2 Department of Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue Str. 7, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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A new DNA aptamer for protein A and its characterization by SPR-based interaction analysis
Regina Stoltenburg and Beate Strehlitz
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
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Click-SELEX: A versatile method for the selection of chemically functionalized aptamers
Fabian Tolle1,Julian Victor1, Felix Friedrich2, Alexander Heckel2, Günter Mayer1
1LIMES Institute, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Str. 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
2 Goethe University Frankfurt a. M, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Modified nucleotides in aptamers: de novo selection and post modification strategies
Christina Udesen
Wengel Group at Nucleic Acid Center, Dept. of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacology, Southern University of Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230, Denmark
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2′-Modified RNA aptamer against autoantibodies associated with multiple sclerosis and bioluminescent probe on its basis
Maria A Vorobjeva1, Vasilisa V Krasitskaya2, Valentina V Timoshenko1, Georgy A Nevinsky1, Ludmila A Frank2 and Alya G Venyaminova1
1 Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
2 Institute of Biophysics, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Krasnoyarsk 660036, Russia
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Comparison Between SELEX and Single-Step Selection
Robert Wilson and Andrew Cossins
Liverpool University, Institute of Integrative Biology, Liverpool, UK
Gold Sponsor and Exhibitor
Aptamer Solutions Ltd is a York based Biotechnology Company specialising in the custom selection of high-affinity and highly specific nucleic acid aptamers for use in the life sciences sector. Our proprietary automated high-throughput aptamer selection processes allow us to offer a flexible and competitive pricing structure for the development of RNA and DNA aptamers. In addition, we are about to launch a new complementary technology in the area of biomarker discovery.
Our proprietary aptamer based biomarker discovery platform and proprietary combinatorial libraries contain up to and over 1018 different molecules, this diversity and bespoke library design is fundamental to the success of the screening process. This technology enables us to greatly speed up the identification of novel biomarkers as well as diagnostics and/or therapeutic candidate molecules. This technology builds on one of the most powerful uses of aptamer technology, which is the ability for aptamers to be isolated against targets without any prior knowledge of the target.
Our aptamer-based proteomic technology identifies novel biomarkers within the cell surface (such as tumours, cell lines or stem cells) or in samples of biological fluids (such as, urine, plasma and saliva). The technology is versatile and can also be applied to viruses, bacteria, fungi or any other cell based materials or extracts. The discovery process is driven by identifying differences between sample population using enormous aptamer libraries. Samples are prepared based on broad classifications such as: disease vs normal; pre-metastatic vs. post metastatic cancers; pathogenic vs non-pathogenic fungi etc. The process is fast and efficient and identifies differences between ‘healthy’ and ‘diseased’ whilst simultaneously developing the affinity reagent. This cuts out many of the steps associated with traditional biomarker discovery processes.
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OVERVIEW: Izon designs and manufactures precision instrumentation for multi-parameter measurement of nano- and micro- sized particles. Izon’s instruments use unique nanopore-based detection to enable the size, charge and concentration of 50nm – 20 micron sized particles to be measured on a particle-by-particle basis, providing detail not available with optical-based techniques. Izon originated in New Zealand and now sells its products in 34 countries. It has its European headquarters in Oxford, UK and its US headquarters are in Cambridge, MA.
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For further information please email info@izon.com
Exhibitor
IBA GmbH – Your partner for custom-made Aptamers
IBA GmbH is a biotech company located in Goettingen, Germany. Since 1991 our nucleic acid division has focused on specialized nucleic acid custom services, which require particular care and highest quality. These include custom-made DNA and RNA oligonucleotides, chimers, modified and labeled nucleic acids (e.g. for real-time PCR) as well as dinucleotides and triphosphates.
Taking advantage of the new Click Chemistry we can offer new dye combination options and unsurpassed labeling densities. More than 200 fluorescent labels and more than 80 modifications are available to suit your needs.
With our expertise in high quality oligonucleotide synthesis we produce custom DNA and RNA Aptamers according to your individual specifications. You ask for it – we synthesize! Just let us know your DNA/RNA sequence and required modification.
In collaboration with RiNA GmbH, Berlin, we are now also providing an Aptamer Generation Service (AGS), which enables the generation of new DNA or RNA Aptamers.
More details can be found at www.oligo-specialist.com.
Exhibitor
RiNA GmbH, a biotech company located in Berlin (Germany), is active in the field of cell-free protein biosynthesis and functional nucleic acids, especially in aptamer technology and its application. RiNA provides both commercial protein expression kits and diverse services for protein and nucleic acids syntheses.
RiNA’s Functional Nucleic Acids (FuNA) division provides different services in the aptamer field, in particular:
Additionally, RiNA is currently involved in several national and international funded projects.
For further information please send an email to info@rina-gmbh.eu or visit our website (www.rina-gmbh.eu).
Exhibitor
Base Pair Biotechnologies offers its customers a total solution for developing novel DNA and RNA aptamer-based technologies. In addition to our numerous institutional customers, we support companies developing products in areas ranging from basic research detection, to clinical diagnostics and therapeutic lead development. We have proven success with protein, peptide, small molecule and cellular targets.
Our platform technology is a patented, multiplexed approach to aptamer discovery. This allows us to offer de novo aptamer discovery services at unprecedented speed and throughput. Our expertise in aptamer and related assay development allows us to support our customers in a wide range of novel applications.
Scientists at Base Pair Biotechnologies have been studying aptamers and developing them on a research basis since 2004. Besides custom aptamer development through commercial and research requests Base Pair Biotechnologies is also involved in multiple projects funded through research grants. Current and past federally funded research projects involving aptamers include NIH, EPA and NSF grants totaling over $2.5M.
Besides our custom work we have hundreds of aptamers with validated binding on hand with various degrees of prior validation in assays as well. Our Aptamers that Work™ catalog and catalog incubator contain DNA and RNA aptamers available for use.
