Production and processing of aptamer microarrays

Methods. 2005 Sep;37(1):4-15. doi: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2005.05.009. Epub 2005 Sep 30.

Abstract

Aptamers are nucleic acid species that are selected in vitro for their specific binding properties. We describe methods for the production and processing of aptamer microarrays, including detailed procedures for the high-throughput, enzymatic synthesis of 5' RNA biotinylated aptamers and for arraying them onto streptavidin-coated glass slides. Also presented are methods for processing the aptamer microarrays, including blocking, washing, drying, and scanning. Examples are shown for the specific capture of fluorescently labeled target proteins either alone in binding buffer or in competition with labeled intracellular proteins from cell lysates. Consideration is given to the challenges involved in producing multiplex aptamer chips composed of aptamers taken from disparate literature sources, and to the development of standardized methods for characterizing the performance of capture reagents used in biosensors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide / metabolism*
  • Biosensing Techniques / methods*
  • Biotinylation
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / methods
  • Protein Array Analysis / methods*
  • Proteomics

Substances

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide