Aptamers are DNA (or RNA) ligands selected from large libraries of random DNA sequences and capable of binding different classes of targets with high affinity and selectivity. Both the chances for the aptamer to be selected and the quality of the selected aptamer are largely dependent on the method of selection. Here we introduce selection of aptamers by nonequilibrium capillary electrophoresis of equilibrium mixtures (NECEEM). The new method has a number of advantages over conventional approaches. First, NECEEM-based selection has exceptionally high efficiency, which allows aptamer development with fewer rounds of selection. Second, NECEEM can be equally used for selecting aptamers and finding their binding parameters. Finally, due to its comprehensive kinetic capabilities, the new method can potentially facilitate selection of aptamers with predefined K(d), k(off), and k(on) of the aptamer-target interaction. In this proof-of-principle work, we describe the theoretical bases of the method and demonstrate its application to a one-step selection of DNA aptamers with nanomolar affinity for protein farnesyltransferase.

We recently introduced a new electrophoretic method, nonequilibrium capillary electrophoresis of equilibrium mixtures (NECEEM). NECEEM provides a unique way of finding kinetic and equilibrium parameters of the formation of intermolecular complexes from a single electropherogram and allows for the use of weak affinity probes in protein quantitation. In this work, we study theoretical bases of NECEEM by developing a mathematical model for the new method. By solving a system of partial differential equations with diffusion in linear approximation, we found the analytical solution for concentrations of components involved in complex formation as functions of time from the beginning of separation and position in the capillary. The nonnumerical nature of the solution makes it a powerful tool in studying the theoretical foundations of the NECEEM method and modeling experimental results. We demonstrate the use of the model for finding binding parameters of complex formation by nonlinear regression of NECEEM electropherograms obtained experimentally.

2-Oxoglutarate-dependent nucleic acid demethylases are of biological interest because of their roles in nucleic acid repair and modification. Although some of these enzymes are linked to physiology, their regulatory roles are unclear. Hence, there is a desire to develop selective inhibitors for them; we report studies on AlkB, which reveal it as being amenable to selective inhibition by small molecules. Dynamic combinatorial chemistry linked to mass spectrometric analyses (DCMS) led to the identification of lead compounds, one of which was analyzed by crystallography. Subsequent structure-guided studies led to the identification of inhibitors of improved potency, some of which were shown to be selective over two other 2OG oxygenases. The work further validates the use of the DCMS method and will help to enable the development of inhibitors of nucleic acid modifying 2OG oxygenases both for use as functional probes and, in the longer term, for potential therapeutic use.

Tau is a microtubule-associated protein, which plays an important role in physiology and pathology of neurons. Tau has been recently reported to bind double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) but not to bind single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) [Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 2003, 60, 413-421]. Here, we prove that tau binds not only dsDNA but also ssDNA. This finding was facilitated by using two kinetic capillary electrophoresis methods: (i) non-equilibrium capillary electrophoresis of equilibrium mixtures (NE-CEEM); (ii) affinity-mediated NECEEM. Using the new approach, we observed, for the first time, that tau could induce dissociation of strands in dsDNA by binding one of them in a sequence-specific fashion. Moreover, we determined the equilibrium dissociation constants for all tau-DNA complexes studied.

Nonequilibrium capillary electrophoresis of equilibrium mixtures (NECEEM), a homogeneous approach to select DNA aptamers, is among the most efficient partitioning techniques. In contrast with surface-based systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) approaches, the ability of NECEEM to select aptamers to unmodified proteins in solution is preferable for identifying aptamers for eventual in vivo use. The high stringency and low sample volumes of NECEEM, although generally beneficial, can result in binding of very few aptamers, requiring highly efficient amplification to propagate them. When amplified with standard PCR, detectable library enrichment can fail due to the fast conversion of the aptamers into byproducts and preferential amplification of nonbinders. As an alternative, we proposed the use of emulsion PCR (ePCR), which is known to reduce byproduct formation, as a PCR mode for coupling with NECEEM partitioning. For the first time, we tested the advantages of ePCR in NECEEM-based aptamer selection to a medically relevant DNA repair enzyme, ABH2. We report that the combination of ePCR with NECEEM allowed for the selection of aptamers in the first three rounds of SELEX, while SELEX with conventional PCR failed in a number of attempts. Selected aptamers to an unmodified ABH2 protein have potential use in diagnostics and as leads for anticancer cotherapies, used as enhancements of alkylating agents in chemotherapy.