Array-based evolution of DNA aptamers allows modelling of an explicit sequence-fitness landscape.

ABSTRACT: Mapping the landscape of possible macromolecular polymer sequences to their fitness in performing biological functions is a challenge across the biosciences. A paradigm is the case of aptamers, nucleic acids that can be selected to bind particular target molecules. We have characterized the sequence-fitness landscape for aptamers binding allophycocyanin (APC) protein via a novel Closed Loop Aptameric Directed Evolution (CLADE) approach. In contrast to the conventional SELEX methodology, selection and mutation of aptamer sequences was carried out in silico, with explicit fitness assays for 44,131 aptamers of known sequence using DNA microarrays in vitro. We capture the landscape using a predictive machine learning model linking sequence features and function and validate this model using 55

SUBMITTER: Knight CG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2615635 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature