Abstract

Nucleic acid aptamers are developed from a pool of random oligonucleotide libraries with an in vitro selection through systematic evolution of ligands via exponential enrichment (SELEX) process, which are capable of specific and high-affinity molecular binding against targets. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of spike protein from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is involved in the early stages of viral infection, is a promising target for aptamer selection. Currently, there are no effective approaches to prevent virus from spreading. In this study, a new ssDNA aptamer RBD/S-A1 binding to the RBD of spike protein from SARS-CoV-2 with high affinity (K_d=1.74 ± 0.2 nM) and low cross-binding activity was selected and evaluated. Although aptamers targeting the RBD of spike protein from SARS-CoV-2 have been described in a handful of previous studies, the RBD/S-A1 aptamer identified in this work may be considered as a potential supplementation for the current diagnosis and research of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

摘要

核酸适配体是从随机寡核苷酸文库池中开发出来的，通过指数富集 (SELEX) 过程配体的系统进化进行体外选择，能够与靶标特异性和高亲和力分子结合。来自严重急性呼吸系统综合症冠状病毒 2 (SARS-CoV-2) 的刺突蛋白的受体结合域 (RBD) 参与病毒感染的早期阶段，是适体选择的有希望的目标。目前，没有有效的方法来防止病毒传播。_{在这项研究中，一种新的 ssDNA 适体 RBD/S-A1 以高亲和力 (K d)}与 SARS-CoV-2 刺突蛋白的 RBD 结合=1.74 ± 0.2 nM) 和低交叉结合活性被选择和评估。尽管在之前的一些研究中描述了靶向 SARS-CoV-2 刺突蛋白 RBD 的适配体，但本工作中鉴定的 RBD/S-A1 适配体可被视为当前冠状病毒诊断和研究的潜在补充SARS-CoV-2。