An unbiased cell-culture selection yields DNA aptamers as novel senescent cell-specific reagents.

ABSTRACT: Cellular senescence is an irreversible form of cell-cycle arrest caused by excessive stress or damage. While various biomarkers of cellular senescence have been proposed, there are currently no universal, stand-alone indicators of this condition. The field largely relies on the combined detection of multiple biomarkers to differentiate senescent cells from non-senescent cells. Here we introduce a new approach: unbiased cell culture selections to identify senescent cell-specific folded DNA aptamers from vast libraries of trillions of random 80-mer DNAs. Senescent mouse adult fibroblasts and their non-senescent counterparts were employed for selection. We demonstrate aptamer specificity for senescent mouse cells in culture, identify a form of fibronectin as the molecular target of two select

SUBMITTER: Pearson KS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11957005 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature