U.S. patent application number 12/958620 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-09 for multiplexed analyses of test samples.
This patent application is currently assigned to SOMALOGIC, INC.. Invention is credited to Bruce Eaton, Larry Gold, Shashi Gupta, Stephan Kraemer, Dan Nieuwlandt, Daniel J. Schneider, Marty Stanton, Dominic Zichi.
Application Number | 20110136099 12/958620 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44082390 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110136099 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schneider; Daniel J. ; et
al. |
June 9, 2011 |
Multiplexed Analyses of Test Samples
Abstract
The present disclosure describes methods, devices, reagents, and
kits for the detection of one or more target molecules that may be
present in a test sample. The described methods, devices, kits, and
reagents facilitate the detection and quantification of a
non-nucleic acid target (e.g., a protein target) in a test sample
by detecting and quantifying a nucleic acid (i.e., an aptamer). The
methods described create a nucleic acid surrogate for a non-nucleic
acid target, thus allowing the wide variety of nucleic acid
technologies, including amplification, to be applied to a broader
range of desired targets, especially protein targets. The
disclosure further describes aptamer constructs that facilitate the
use of aptamers in a variety of analytical detection
applications.
Inventors: |
Schneider; Daniel J.;
(Arvada, CO) ; Nieuwlandt; Dan; (Longmont, CO)
; Eaton; Bruce; (Longmont, CO) ; Stanton;
Marty; (Boulder, CO) ; Gupta; Shashi;
(Louisville, CO) ; Kraemer; Stephan; (Boulder,
CO) ; Zichi; Dominic; (Boulder, CO) ; Gold;
Larry; (Boulder, CO) |
Assignee: |
SOMALOGIC, INC.
Boulder
CO
|
Family ID: |
44082390 |
Appl. No.: |
12/958620 |
Filed: |
December 2, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12175446 |
Jul 17, 2008 |
7855054 |
|
|
12958620 |
|
|
|
|
11623580 |
Jan 16, 2007 |
|
|
|
12175446 |
|
|
|
|
11623535 |
Jan 16, 2007 |
|
|
|
11623580 |
|
|
|
|
60950293 |
Jul 17, 2007 |
|
|
|
60950281 |
Jul 17, 2007 |
|
|
|
60950283 |
Jul 17, 2007 |
|
|
|
61031420 |
Feb 26, 2008 |
|
|
|
61051594 |
May 8, 2008 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
435/5 ; 435/6.12;
435/7.21; 435/7.9; 436/518; 436/525; 436/526; 436/527; 436/529;
436/531 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01N 33/54306 20130101;
G01N 33/5308 20130101; G01N 33/74 20130101; G01N 33/6863
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
435/5 ; 436/518;
435/6.12; 435/7.9; 435/7.21; 436/531; 436/529; 436/526; 436/527;
436/525 |
International
Class: |
G01N 33/53 20060101
G01N033/53; G01N 33/543 20060101 G01N033/543; C12Q 1/68 20060101
C12Q001/68; C12Q 1/70 20060101 C12Q001/70; G01N 33/567 20060101
G01N033/567; G01N 33/545 20060101 G01N033/545; G01N 33/544 20060101
G01N033/544; G01N 33/553 20060101 G01N033/553; G01N 33/552 20060101
G01N033/552 |
Claims
1. A method for detecting a target molecule that may be present in
a test sample, the method comprising: (a) preparing a mixture by
contacting the test sample with an aptamer comprising a first tag
and at least one modified nucleotide and having a specific affinity
for the target molecule, wherein an aptamer affinity complex is
formed if said target molecule is present in said test sample; (b)
exposing the mixture to a first solid support comprising a first
capture element, and allowing the first tag to associate with the
first capture element; (c) removing any components of the mixture
not associated with said first solid support; (d) releasing the
aptamer affinity complex from said first solid support; (e)
attaching a second tag to said target molecule in the aptamer
affinity complex; (f) exposing the released aptamer affinity
complex to a second solid support comprising a second capture
element and allowing the second tag to associate with said second
capture element; (g) removing any uncomplexed aptamer from said
mixture by partitioning the uncomplexed aptamer from said aptamer
affinity complex; and (h) detecting said target molecule by
detecting the aptamer portion of said aptamer affinity complex.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein (h) further comprises
dissociating the aptamer from said aptamer affinity complex before
detecting the aptamer.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first tag is the same as the
second tag and the second tag is added to the target molecule at
any point after (b) and before (f), and comprising blocking the
first capture agent prior to the addition of the second tag.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first tag is different than
the second tag and the second tag is added to the target molecule
at any point before (f).
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising introducing a kinetic
challenge at any point after (a) and before (d).
6. The method of claim 5, wherein said kinetic challenge comprises
diluting the mixture containing the aptamer affinity complex and
incubating the mixture containing the aptamer affinity complex for
a time selected from the group consisting of greater than or equal
to 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, 4 minutes, 5
minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, and 60 minutes.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein said kinetic challenge comprises
diluting the mixture containing the aptamer affinity complex and
incubating the mixture containing the aptamer affinity complex for
a time such that the ratio of the measured level of aptamer
affinity complex to the measured level of the non-specific complex
is increased.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein said kinetic challenge comprises
adding a competitor to the mixture containing the aptamer affinity
complex, and incubating the mixture containing the aptamer affinity
complex for a time selected from the group consisting of greater
than or equal to 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, 4
minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, and 60 minutes.
9. The method of claim 5, wherein said kinetic challenge comprises
adding a competitor to the mixture containing the aptamer affinity
complex and incubating the mixture containing the aptamer affinity
complex for a time such that the ratio of the measured level of
aptamer affinity complex to the measured level of the non-specific
complex is increased.
10. The method of claim 5, wherein said kinetic challenge comprises
diluting the mixture containing the aptamer affinity complex,
adding a competitor to the mixture containing the aptamer affinity
complex, and incubating the mixture containing the aptamer affinity
complex for a time selected from the group consisting of greater
than or equal to 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, 4
minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, and 60 minutes.
11. The method of claim 5, wherein said kinetic challenge comprises
diluting the mixture containing the aptamer affinity complex,
adding a competitor to the mixture containing the aptamer affinity
complex and incubating the mixture containing the aptamer affinity
complex for a time such that the ratio of the measured level of
aptamer affinity complex to the measured level of the non-specific
complex is increased.
12. The method of claim 5 wherein the kinetic challenge comprises
the introduction of a competitor molecule and said competitor
molecule is selected from the group consisting of an
oligonucleotide, heparin, herring sperm DNA, salmon sperm DNA,
dextran sulfate, polyanion, abasic phosphodiester polymer, dNTP,
and pyrophosphate.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein said aptamer affinity complex has
a slow rate of dissociation.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the rate of dissociation of said
aptamer affinity complex (t.sub.1/2) is greater than or equal to 30
minutes.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein the rate of dissociation of said
aptamer affinity complex (t.sub.1/2) is between about 30 minutes
and about 240 minutes.
16. The method of claim 13 wherein the rate of dissociation of said
aptamer affinity complex (t.sub.1/2) is selected from the group
consisting of .gtoreq.30 minutes, .gtoreq.60 minutes, .gtoreq.90
minutes, .gtoreq.120 minutes, .gtoreq.150 minutes, .gtoreq.180
minutes, .gtoreq.210 minutes, and .gtoreq.240 minutes.
17. The method of claim 1 wherein said aptamer is detected and
optionally quantified using a method selected from the group
consisting of Q-PCR, MS, and hybridization.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein said Q-PCR is performed using
TaqMan.RTM. PCR, an intercalating fluorescent dye during the PCR
process, or a molecular beacon during the PCR process.
19. The method of claim 1 further comprising adding a detectable
moiety to the aptamer.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein said detectable moiety is
selected from the group consisting of a dye, a quantum dot, a
radiolabel, a electrochemical functional group, an enzyme, and an
enzyme substrate.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein said dye is a fluorescent
dye.
22. The method of claim 20, wherein said enzyme is alkaline
phosphatase or horseradish peroxidase.
23. The method of claim 1, wherein said aptamer is a
single-stranded nucleic acid or a double-stranded nucleic acid.
24. The method of claim 1, wherein said aptamer comprises DNA, RNA
or both DNA and RNA.
25. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one modified
nucleotide is a C-5 modified pyrimidine.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein said aptamer further comprises
at least one chemical modification comprising a chemical
substitution at one or more positions independently selected from a
ribose position, a deoxyribose position, a phosphate position, and
a base position.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein said chemical modification is
independently selected from the group consisting of a 2'-position
sugar modification, a 2'-amino (2'--NH.sub.2), a 2'-fluoro (2'-F),
a 2'-O-methyl (2'-OMe), a 5-position pyrimidine modification, an
8-position purine modification, a modification at a cytosine
exocyclic amine, a substitution of 5-bromouracil, a substitution of
5-bromodeoxyuridine, a substitution of 5-bromodeoxycytidine, a
backbone modification, methylation, a 3' cap, and a 5' cap.
28. The method of claim 25 wherein said C-5 modified pyrimidine is
selected from the group listed in FIG. 16.
29. The method of claim 1 wherein said target molecule is selected
from the group consisting of a protein, a peptide, a carbohydrate,
a polysaccharide, a glycoprotein, a hormone, a receptor, an
antigen, an antibody, a virus, a substrate, a metabolite, a
transition state analog, a cofactor, an inhibitor, a drug, a dye, a
nutrient, a growth factor, a tissue, and a controlled
substance.
30. The method of claim 1, wherein said target molecule is a
protein or a peptide.
31. The method of claim 1, wherein said test sample is selected
from the group consisting of a biological sample, an environmental
sample, a chemical sample, a pharmaceutical sample, a food sample,
an agricultural sample, and a veterinary sample.
32. The method claim 1, wherein said test sample is a biological
sample selected from the group consisting of whole blood,
leukocytes, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, plasma, serum,
sputum, breath, urine, semen, saliva, meningial fluid, amniotic
fluid, glandular fluid, lymph fluid, nipple aspirate, bronchial
aspirate, synovial fluid, joint aspirate, cells, a cellular
extract, stool, tissue, a tissue extract, a tissue biopsy, and
cerebrospinal fluid.
33. The method of claim 1, wherein said test sample is plasma or
serum.
34. The method of claim 1 wherein said first tag and said second
tag each comprises at least one component independently selected
from the group consisting of a polynucleotide, a polypeptide, a
peptide nucleic acid, a locked nucleic acid, an oligosaccharide, a
polysaccharide, an antibody, an affybody, an antibody mimic, a cell
receptor, a ligand, a lipid, biotin, avidin, streptavidin,
Extravidin, neutravidin, a metal, histidine, and any portion of any
of these structures.
35. The method of claim 1, wherein said first capture element and
said second capture element each comprises at least one component
independently selected from a polynucleotide, a polypeptide, a
peptide nucleic acid, a locked nucleic acid, an oligosaccharide, a
polysaccharide, an antibody, an affybody, an antibody mimic, a cell
receptor, a ligand, a lipid, biotin, avidin, streptavidin,
Extravidin, neutravidin, a metal, histidine, and any portion of any
of these structures.
36. The method of claim 1, wherein the first tag comprises a
releasable moiety.
37. The method of claim 36 wherein the releasable moiety comprises
a photocleavable moiety.
38. The method of claim 1, wherein said first solid support and
second solid support each is independently selected from the group
consisting of a polymer bead, an agarose bead, a polystyrene bead,
an acrylamide bead, a solid core bead, a porous bead, a
paramagnetic bead, glass bead, controlled pore bead, a microtitre
well, a cyclo-olefin copolymer substrate, a membrane, a plastic
substrate, nylon, a Langmuir-Blodgett film, glass, a germanium
substrate, a silicon substrate, a silicon wafer chip, a flow
through chip, a microbead, a polytetrafluoroethylene substrate, a
polystyrene substrate, a gallium arsenide substrate, a gold
substrate, and a silver substrate.
39. The method of claim 1, further comprising quantifying said
target by quantifying said aptamer.
40. The method of claim 1, wherein detection of the aptamer
comprises hybridizing the aptamer to a third solid support wherein
the third solid support comprises a plurality of addressable
features and wherein at least one of said features comprises at
least capture element disposed thereon that is complementary to any
sequence contained within the aptamer.
41. A method for detecting a target molecule that may be present in
a test sample, the method comprising: (a) preparing a mixture by
contacting a test sample with an aptamer comprising at least one
modified nucleotide and having a specific affinity for a target
molecule, wherein an aptamer affinity complex is formed if said
target molecule is present in said test sample; (b) at any point
prior to (c) adding a tag to said target molecule; (c) exposing the
mixture to a solid support comprising a capture element, and
allowing the tag on the target molecule to associate with the
capture element; (d) removing any uncomplexed aptamer from said
mixture by partitioning the uncomplexed aptamer from the aptamer
affinity complex; (e) detecting said target molecule by detecting
the aptamer portion of said aptamer affinity complex.
42. The method of claim 41, wherein (e) further comprises
dissociating the aptamer from said aptamer affinity complex, before
detecting the aptamer.
43. The method of claim 41, further comprising introducing a
kinetic challenge at any point after (a) and before (d).
44. The method of claim 43, wherein said kinetic challenge
comprises diluting the mixture containing the aptamer affinity
complex and incubating the mixture containing the aptamer affinity
complex for a time selected from the group consisting of greater
than or equal to 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, 4
minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, and 60 minutes.
45. The method of claim 43, wherein said kinetic challenge
comprises diluting the mixture containing the aptamer affinity
complex and incubating the mixture containing the aptamer affinity
complex for a time such that the ratio of the measured level of
aptamer affinity complex to the measured level of the non-specific
complex is increased.
46. The method of claim 43, wherein said kinetic challenge
comprises adding a competitor to the mixture containing the aptamer
affinity complex, and incubating the mixture containing the aptamer
affinity complex for a time selected from the group consisting of
greater than or equal to 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3
minutes, 4 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, and 60
minutes.
47. The method of claim 43, wherein said kinetic challenge
comprises adding a competitor to the mixture containing the aptamer
affinity complex and incubating the mixture containing the aptamer
affinity complex for a time such that the ratio of the measured
level of aptamer affinity complex to the measured level of the
non-specific complex is increased.
48. The method of claim 43, wherein said kinetic challenge
comprises diluting the mixture containing the aptamer affinity
complex, adding a competitor to the mixture containing the aptamer
affinity complex, and incubating the mixture containing the aptamer
affinity complex for a time selected from the group consisting of
greater than or equal to 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3
minutes, 4 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, and 60
minutes.
49. The method of claim 43, wherein said kinetic challenge
comprises diluting the mixture containing the aptamer affinity
complex, adding a competitor to the mixture containing the aptamer
affinity complex and incubating the mixture containing the aptamer
affinity complex for a time such that the ratio of the measured
level of aptamer affinity complex to the measured level of the
non-specific complex is increased.
50. The method of claim 43 wherein the kinetic challenge comprises
the introduction of a competitor molecule and said competitor
molecule is selected from the group consisting of an
oligonucleotide, heparin, herring sperm DNA, salmon sperm DNA,
dextran sulfate, polyanion, abasic phosphodiester polymer, dNTP,
and pyrophosphate.
51. The method of claim 41 wherein said aptamer affinity complex
has a slow rate of dissociation.
52. The method of claim 51 wherein the rate of dissociation of said
aptamer affinity complex (t.sub.1/2) is greater than or equal to 30
minutes.
53. The method of claim 51 wherein the rate of dissociation of said
aptamer affinity complex (t.sub.1/2) is between 30 minutes and 240
minutes.
54. The method of claim 51 wherein the rate of dissociation of said
aptamer affinity complex (t.sub.1/2) is selected from the group
consisting of .gtoreq.30 minutes, .gtoreq.60 minutes, .gtoreq.90
minutes, .gtoreq.120 minutes, .gtoreq.150 minutes, .gtoreq.180
minutes, .gtoreq.210 minutes, and .gtoreq.240 minutes.
55. The method of claim 41, wherein said at least one modified
nucleotide is a C-5 modified pyrimidine.
56. The method of claim 55, wherein said aptamer further comprises
at least one chemical modification comprising a chemical
substitution at one or more positions independently selected from a
ribose position, a deoxyribose position, a phosphate position, and
a base position.
57. The method of claim 56, wherein said chemical modification is
independently selected from the group consisting of a 2'-position
sugar modification, a 2'-amino (2'--NH.sub.2), a 2'-fluoro (2'-F),
a 2'-O-methyl (2'-OMe), a 5-position pyrimidine modification, an
8-position purine modification, a modification at a cytosine
exocyclic amine, a substitution of 5-bromouracil, a substitution of
5-bromodeoxyuridine, a substitution of 5-bromodeoxycytidine, a
backbone modification, methylation, a 3' cap, and a 5' cap.
58. The method of claim 55 wherein said C-5 modified pyrimidine is
selected from the group listed in FIG. 16.
59. A method of detecting the presence of, or determining the
amount of, a target molecule in a sample, the method comprising:
(i) providing a plurality of aptamers to a target molecule, wherein
each of said plurality of aptamers comprises at least one modified
nucleotide and a cleavable capture tag; (ii) contacting the
aptamers with a sample containing target molecules to form a
mixture containing aptamer-target molecule complexes; (iii)
providing a solid support having probes adhered to the surface of
the support, wherein the probes are capable of binding to the
cleavable capture tag; (iv) contacting the mixture with the solid
support such that aptamer-target molecule complexes become bound to
the support through binding of the cleavable capture tag and probe;
(v) partitioning aptamer-target molecule complexes bound to the
solid support from the remainder of the mixture; (vi) introducing a
second capture tag to the target molecule component of the
aptamer-target molecule complexes; (vii) dissociating the
aptamer-target molecule complexes from the surface of the solid
support by cleaving the cleavable capture tags; (viii) providing a
solid support having probes adhered to the surface of the support,
wherein the probes are capable of binding to the second capture tag
on target molecules; (ix) contacting the dissociated aptamer-target
molecule complexes with the solid support from (viii) such that the
aptamer-target molecule complexes become bound to the support
through binding of the second capture tag and probe; (x)
dissociating the aptamer-target molecule complexes to yield free
aptamers and target molecules bound to the support; (xi) detecting
the free aptamers.
60. The method of claim 59 wherein after dissociation of the
aptamer-target molecule complexes from the surface of the solid
support (vii), the dissociated aptamer-target molecule complexes
are contacted with an excess of competitor molecule.
61. The method of claim 59 wherein after dissociation of the
aptamer-target molecule complexes from the surface of the solid
support (vii), the dissociated aptamer-target molecule complexes
are diluted.
62. The method of claim 60 wherein after dissociation of the
aptamer-target molecule complexes from the surface of the solid
support (vii), the dissociated aptamer-target molecule complexes
are diluted.
63. The method of claim 60 further comprising the step of measuring
the amount of free aptamer detected.
64. The method of claim 61 further comprising the step of measuring
the amount of free aptamer detected.
65. The method of claim 62 further comprising the step of measuring
the amount of free aptamer detected.
66. The method of claim 59, wherein said at least one modified
nucleotide is a C-5 modified pyrimidine.
67. The method of claim 66, wherein said aptamer further comprises
at least one chemical modification comprising a chemical
substitution at one or more positions independently selected from a
ribose position, a deoxyribose position, a phosphate position, and
a base position.
68. The method of claim 67, wherein said chemical modification is
independently selected from the group consisting of a 2'-position
sugar modification, a 2'-amino (2'--NH.sub.2), a 2'-fluoro (2'-F),
a 2'-O-methyl (2'-OMe), a 5-position pyrimidine modification, an
8-position purine modification, a modification at a cytosine
exocyclic amine, a substitution of 5-bromouracil, a substitution of
5-bromodeoxyuridine, a substitution of 5-bromodeoxycytidine, a
backbone modification, methylation, a 3' cap, and a 5' cap.
69. The method of claim 59 wherein said C-5 modified pyrimidine is
selected from the group listed in FIG. 16.
70. A kit comprising: a) one or more aptamers specific to one or
more targets of interest, wherein each of said one or more aptamers
comprises at least one modified nucleotide; b) one or more solid
supports; c) one or more partitioning reagents; and d) one or more
reagents for the release of an aptamer from the affinity
complex.
71. The kit of claim 70 further comprising a reagent for
derivatizing the one or more targets of interest.
72. The kit of claim 70 further comprising a reagent to cleave a
cleavable moiety in said one or more aptamers.
73. The kit of claim 70 further comprising a reagent for use in a
kinetic challenge.
74. The method of claim 70, wherein said at least one modified
nucleotide is a C-5 modified pyrimidine.
75. The method of claim 74, wherein said aptamer further comprises
at least one chemical modification comprising a chemical
substitution at one or more positions independently selected from a
ribose position, a deoxyribose position, a phosphate position, and
a base position.
76. The method of claim 75, wherein said chemical modification is
independently selected from the group consisting of a 2'-position
sugar modification, a 2'-amino (2'--NH.sub.2), a 2'-fluoro (2'-F),
a 2'-O-methyl (2'-OMe), a 5-position pyrimidine modification, an
8-position purine modification, a modification at a cytosine
exocyclic amine, a substitution of 5-bromouracil, a substitution of
5-bromodeoxyuridine, a substitution of 5-bromodeoxycytidine, a
backbone modification, methylation, a 3' cap, and a 5' cap.
77. The method of claim 70 wherein said C-5 modified pyrimidine is
selected from the group listed in FIG. 16.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of
U.S. application Ser. No. 12/175,446, filed Jul. 17, 2008, entitled
"Multiplexed Analyses of Test Samples". U.S. application Ser. No.
12/175,446 claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.
No. 60/950,281, filed Jul. 17, 2007, U.S. Provisional Application
Ser. No. 60/950,293, filed Jul. 17, 2007, U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 60/950,283, filed Jul. 17, 2007, U.S.
Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/031,420, filed Feb. 26, 2008
and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/051,594, filed May 8,
2008. U.S. application Ser. No. 12/175,446 is also a continuation
in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/623,580 and U.S.
application Ser. No. 11/623,535, each of which was filed on Jan.
16, 2007. Each of these applications is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to methods, devices,
reagents, and kits for the detection of a target molecule in a
sample and, more specifically, to the detection and/or
quantification of one or more target molecules that may be
contained in a test sample. Such methods have a wide utility in
diagnostic applications as well as in biomarker discovery and the
design and development of therapeutics.
[0003] Incorporated by reference herein in its entirety is the
Sequence Listing entitled "Sequence_Listing_ST25.txt", created Nov.
30, 2010, size of one kilobyte.
BACKGROUND
[0004] The following description provides a summary of information
relevant to the present disclosure and is not a concession that any
of the information provided or publications referenced herein is
prior art to the presently claimed invention.
[0005] Assays directed to the detection and quantification of
physiologically significant molecules in biological samples and
other samples are important tools in scientific research and in the
health care field. One class of such assays involves the use of a
microarray that includes one or more aptamers immobilized on a
solid support. The aptamers are each capable of binding to a target
molecule in a highly specific manner and with very high affinity.
See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,096 entitled "Nucleic Acid Ligands"
see also, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,242,246, U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,543,
and U.S. Pat. No. 6,503,715, each of which is entitled "Nucleic
Acid Ligand Diagnostic Biochip". Once the microarray is contacted
with a sample, the aptamers bind to their respective target
molecules present in the sample and thereby enable a determination
of the absence, presence, amount, and/or concentration of the
target molecules in the sample.
[0006] A variation of this assay employs aptamers that include
photoreactive functional groups that enable the aptamers to
covalently bind or "photocrosslink" their target molecules. See,
e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,544,776 entitled "Nucleic Acid Ligand
Diagnostic Biochip". These photoreactive aptamers are also referred
to as photoaptamers. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,177, U.S. Pat.
No. 6,001,577, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,291,184, each of which is
entitled "Systematic Evolution of Nucleic Acid Ligands by
Exponential Enrichment: Photoselection of Nucleic Acid Ligands and
Solution SELEX"; see also, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,539, entitled
"Photoselection of Nucleic Acid Ligands". After the microarray is
contacted with the sample and the photoaptamers have had an
opportunity to bind to their target molecules, the photoaptamers
are photoactivated, and the solid support is washed to remove any
non-specifically bound molecules. Harsh wash conditions may be
used, since target molecules that are bound to the photoaptamers
are generally not removed, due to the covalent bonds created by the
photoactivated functional group(s) on the photoaptamers. In this
manner, the assay enables a determination of the absence, presence,
amount, and/or concentration of the target molecules in the test
sample.
[0007] In both of these assay formats, the aptamers are immobilized
on the solid support prior to being contacted with the sample.
Under certain circumstances, however, immobilization of the
aptamers prior to contact with the sample may not provide an
optimal assay. For example, pre-immobilization of the aptamers may
result in inefficient mixing of the aptamers with the target
molecules on the surface of the solid support, perhaps leading to
lengthy reaction times and, therefore, extended incubation periods
to permit efficient binding of the aptamers to their target
molecules. Further, when photoaptamers are employed in the assay
and depending upon the material utilized as a solid support, the
solid support may tend to scatter or absorb the light used to
effect the formation of covalent bonds between the photoaptamers
and their target molecules. Moreover, depending upon the method
employed, detection of target molecules bound to their aptamers can
be subject to imprecision, since the surface of the solid support
may also be exposed to and affected by any labeling agents that are
used. Finally, immobilization of the aptamers on the solid support
generally involves an aptamer-preparation step (i.e., the
immobilization) prior to exposure of the aptamers to the sample,
and this preparation step may affect the activity or functionality
of the aptamers.
[0008] Accordingly, a need exists for methods, devices, reagents,
and kits that provide high sensitivity assays for the detection
and/or quantification of target molecules in a test sample by
optimizing conditions that affect one or more of the following: (1)
the activity of aptamers, (2) the efficiency of achieving binding
equilibria for aptamer-target molecule complexes, (3) the formation
of covalent bond(s) between an aptamer and its target molecule, (4)
removal of extraneous sample components and excess aptamers, (5)
dissociation of the affinity complex formed through the use of slow
off-rate aptamers, and (6) the detection of aptamer-target molecule
complexes.
SUMMARY
[0009] The present disclosure includes methods, devices, reagents,
and kits for the detection and/or quantification of one or more
target molecules that may be present in a test sample. More
specifically, the disclosure provides methods for the purification
of aptamer affinity complexes (or aptamer covalent complexes), by
removing both free target and free aptamers from the aptamer
affinity complexes (or aptamer covalent complexes), thereby
removing potential sources of noise in the assay. The present
disclosure also provides aptamer- and photoaptamer-based assays for
the quantification of target molecule wherein the aptamer (or
photoaptamer) can be separated from the aptamer affinity complex
(or photoaptamer covalent complex) for final detection using any
suitable nucleic acid detection method. The disclosure also
describes aptamer constructs that facilitate the separation of the
assay components from the aptamer affinity complex (or photoaptamer
covalent complex) and permit isolation of the aptamer for detection
and/or quantification. The disclosure also describes methods,
devices, kits, and reagents that offer improved sensitivity and
specificity by employing aptamers that have slow off-rates from
their targets and improved binding efficiencies. The present
disclosure also provides methods, devices, kits, and reagents for
the multiplexed analysis of a test sample, wherein multiple targets
in the test sample may be simultaneously detected and/or
quantified. Ultimately these methods and reagents allow for the
conversion of a target concentration (for example a protein target
concentration in a test sample) to a nucleic acid concentration
that can be detected and quantified by any of a wide variety of
nucleic acid detection and quantification methods. Further, once
the target concentration has been effectively converted to a
corresponding nucleic acid concentration, standard nucleic acid
amplification and detection steps can then be employed to increase
the signal. Methods according to the present disclosure may be
conducted in vitro.
[0010] Single Catch Affinity Assay. In one embodiment, a test
sample is contacted with an aptamer that has a specific affinity
for a target molecule. If the test sample contains the target
molecule, an aptamer affinity complex will form in the mixture with
the test sample. In one embodiment, a tag is attached to the target
molecule of the aptamer affinity complex. (Note that the tag is
designed such that it can be attached to the target in a manner
that does not disrupt the aptamer affinity complex.) In another
embodiment, the tag is attached to the target prior to the
formation of the aptamer affinity complex. In another embodiment,
the tag is added to the target at any point prior to exposing the
mixture to the capture element on the solid support. The tagged
aptamer affinity complex is next captured on a solid support by
exposing the mixture to the solid support. The attachment is
accomplished by contacting the solid support with the aptamer
affinity complex and allowing the tag to associate either, directly
or indirectly, with an appropriate capture agent that is attached
to the solid support. The aptamer affinity complex that has
associated with the capture agent on the solid support is
partitioned from the remainder of the test sample mixture, thereby
removing any free aptamer. The aptamers that are complexed with the
target in the aptamer affinity complex can be released from the
solid support by dissociation of the aptamer affinity complex.
Finally, the released aptamers can be detected and/or quantified
using any of a variety of suitable nucleic acid detection methods,
including but not limited to mass spectrometry, the Invader assay
method, a nucleic acid chip, quantitative polymerase chain reaction
(Q-PCR), and the like. In some embodiments, depending upon the
particular nucleic acid detection methods used, the aptamers may be
detected while still a part of the aptamer affinity complex.
[0011] Dual Catch Affinity Assay. In another embodiment, a test
sample is contacted with an aptamer that includes a releasable
first tag and has a specific affinity for a target molecule. If the
test sample contains the target molecule, an aptamer affinity
complex will form in the mixture with the test sample. The aptamer
affinity complex is captured on a first solid support by exposing
the mixture to the first solid support. The attachment is
accomplished by contacting a first solid support with the aptamer
affinity complex and allowing the releasable first tag included on
the aptamer to associate, either directly or indirectly, with an
appropriate first capture agent that is attached to the first solid
support. Note that in addition to aptamer affinity complexes,
uncomplexed aptamer will also attach to the first solid support.
The aptamer affinity complex and uncomplexed aptamer that has
associated with the probe on the solid support is then partitioned
from the remainder of the mixture, thereby removing free target and
all other uncomplexed matter in the test sample (sample matrix);
i.e., components of the mixture not associated with the first solid
support. Following partitioning the aptamer affinity complex, along
with any uncomplexed aptamer, is released from the first solid
support using a method appropriate to the particular releasable
first tag being employed. A second tag (which may be the same or
different from the releasable first tag) is attached to the target
molecule of the aptamer affinity complex. The second tag is
designed such that it can be attached to the target in a manner
that does not disrupt the aptamer affinity complex. The aptamer
affinity complex is captured on a second solid support by allowing
the second tag to associate either, directly or indirectly, with an
appropriate second capture agent that is attached to a second solid
support by exposing the released aptamer affinity complex to the
second solid support. The aptamer affinity complex that has
associated with the probe on the solid support is partitioned from
the remainder of the mixture, thereby removing any free,
uncomplexed, aptamer. The aptamers that are complexed with the
target in the aptamer affinity complex can be released from the
solid support by dissociation of the aptamer affinity complex.
Finally, the aptamers that have been released from the aptamer
affinity complex can be detected and/or quantified using any of a
variety of suitable nucleic acid methods, including but not limited
to mass spectrometry, the Invader assay method, a DNA chip,
quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR), and the like. In
some embodiments, the target may be reacted with the second tag
while the aptamer affinity complex is still immobilized to the
first solid support. Adding the second tag after the partitioning
step eliminates the labeling of target molecules that are not part
of an aptamer affinity complex. In some embodiments, where a
nucleic acid detection method is used, the aptamers may be detected
while still a part of the aptamer affinity complex.
[0012] Single Catch Photocrosslink Assay. In another embodiment, a
test sample is contacted with a photoaptamer that has a specific
affinity for a target molecule. If the test sample contains the
target molecule, a photoaptamer affinity complex will form in the
mixture with the test sample. The aptamer affinity complex is
converted to an aptamer covalent complex by the appropriate
excitation of the photocrosslinking group. A tag is attached to the
target molecule of the aptamer covalent complex. The tag is
designed such that it can be attached to the target in a manner
that does not disrupt the aptamer covalent complex. The aptamer
covalent complex is captured on a solid support by exposing the
mixture to the solid support. The attachment is accomplished by
contacting the solid support with the aptamer covalent complex and
allowing the tag to associate either, directly or indirectly, with
an appropriate capture agent that is attached to the solid support.
The aptamer covalent complex that has associated with the capture
agent on the solid support is partitioned from the remainder of the
test sample mixture, thereby removing any free photoaptamer. The
photoaptamer that is part of the aptamer covalent complex can be
detected and/or quantified (while still attached to the solid
support) using any of a variety of methods, including but not
limited to the Invader assay method, mass spectroscopy, a DNA chip,
quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR), and the like.
[0013] In another embodiment, the Single Catch Photocrosslink Assay
described above is modified such that, prior to detection of the
photoaptamer, a nucleic acid amplification step, such as, for
example, polymerase chain reaction, is used to create one or more
copies of the photoaptamers that are a part of the aptamer covalent
complexes that are bound to the solid support. These copies of the
photoaptamers can then be released and subsequently detected and/or
quantified using any of a variety of suitable methods, including
but not limited to mass spectrometry, the Invader assay method, a
DNA chip, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR), and the
like.
[0014] In another embodiment of the Single Catch Photocrosslink
Assay, the photocrosslinking group of the photoaptamer is attached
to the aptamer via a cleavable linker. In one embodiment, this
cleavable linker is a photocleavable linker, but may be a
chemically cleavable linker or any other cleavable linker that can
be cleaved to release the target molecule from the tag at any
desirable point in the assay. In this embodiment, the Single Catch
Photocrosslink Assay described above is modified such that, prior
to detection of the photoaptamer, the cleavable linker is used to
release the photoaptamer from the photoaptamer covalent complex
that is bound to the solid support. The released aptamers can be
detected and/or quantified using any of a variety of suitable
methods, including but not limited to mass spectrometry, the
Invader assay method, a DNA chip, quantitative polymerase chain
reaction (Q-PCR), and the like.
[0015] In yet another embodiment of the Single Catch Photocrosslink
Assay, the tag that is attached to the target molecule is attached
via a cleavable linker. In one embodiment, this cleavable linker is
a photocleavable linker. In other embodiments of this assay, the
tag is attached via a chemically cleavable linker or any other
suitable cleavable linker that can be cleaved to release the target
molecule from the tag at any desirable point in the assay. In this
embodiment, the Single Catch Photocrosslink Assay described above
is modified such that, prior to detection of the photoaptamer, the
cleavable linker is used to release the aptamer covalent complex
from the solid support. The released aptamer covalent complex can
be detected and/or quantified using any of a variety of suitable
methods, including but not limited to mass spectrometry, the
Invader assay method, a DNA chip, quantitative polymerase chain
reaction (Q-PCR), and the like.
[0016] Dual Catch Photocrosslink Assay. In another embodiment, a
test sample is contacted with a photoaptamer that contains a first
releasable tag and that has a specific affinity for a target
molecule. If the test sample contains the target molecule, a
photoaptamer affinity complex will form in the mixture with the
test sample. The photoaptamer affinity complex is converted to an
aptamer covalent complex by the appropriate excitation of the
photocrosslinking group. The aptamer covalent complex is captured
on a first solid support by exposing the mixture to the first solid
support. The attachment is accomplished by contacting a first solid
support with the aptamer covalent complex and allowing the
releasable first tag included on the photoaptamer to associate
either, directly or indirectly, with an appropriate first capture
agent attached to the first solid support. Note that in addition to
photoaptamer covalent complexes, uncomplexed photoaptamers may also
attach to the solid support. The aptamer covalent complex and
uncomplexed aptamer that has associated with the probe on the solid
support is partitioned from the remainder of the mixture, thereby
removing free target and all other uncomplexed matter in the test
sample (sample matrix). Following partitioning the photoaptamer
covalent complex, along with any uncomplexed photoaptamer, is
released from the solid support using a method appropriate to the
particular releasable first tag being employed. A second tag is
attached to the target molecule of the aptamer covalent complex.
The second tag is designed such that it can be attached to the
target in a manner that does not disrupt the aptamer covalent
complex. The aptamer covalent complex is captured on a second solid
support by exposing the released aptamer covalent complex to the
second solid support. The attachment is accomplished by contacting
the second solid support with the aptamer covalent complex and
allowing the second tag to associate either, directly or
indirectly, with an appropriate second capture agent attached to
the second solid support. The aptamer covalent complex that has
associated with the second capture agent on the solid support is
partitioned from the remainder of the mixture, thereby removing any
free photoaptamer. The photoaptamer that is part of the aptamer
covalent complex can be detected and/or quantified (while still
attached to the solid support) using any of a variety of suitable
methods, including but not limited to the Invader assay method,
mass spectroscopy, a DNA chip, quantitative polymerase chain
reaction (Q-PCR), and the like.
[0017] In another embodiment, the Dual Catch Photocrosslink Assay
described above is modified such that, prior to detection, a
nucleic acid amplification step such as, for example, polymerase
chain reaction, is used to create one or more copies of the
photoaptamers that are a part of the aptamer covalent complex that
is bound to the solid support. These copies of the photoaptamer can
be released and subsequently detected and/or quantified using any
of a variety of suitable methods, including but not limited to mass
spectrometry, the Invader assay method, a DNA chip, quantitative
polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR), and the like.
[0018] In another embodiment, the Dual Catch Photocrosslink Assay
described above is modified such that the photocrosslinking group
of the photoaptamer is attached to the aptamer via a cleavable
linker. In one embodiment, this cleavable linker is a
photocleavable linker. In other embodiments of this assay, the
photocrosslinking group of the photoaptamer is attached to the
aptamer via a chemically cleavable linker or any other suitable
cleavable linker that can be cleaved to release the
photocrosslinking group from the photoaptamer covalent complex at
any desirable point in the assay. In this embodiment, the Dual
Catch Photocrosslink Assay described above is modified such that,
prior to detection of the photoaptamer, the cleavable linker is
used to release the photoaptamer from the photoaptamer covalent
complex that is bound to the solid support. The released
photoaptamers can be detected and/or quantified using any of a
variety of suitable methods, including but not limited to mass
spectrometry, the Invader assay method, a DNA chip, quantitative
polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR), and the like.
[0019] In yet another embodiment, in the Dual Catch Photocrosslink
Assay the tag that is attached to the target molecule is attached
via a cleavable linker. In one embodiment, this cleavable linker is
a photocleavable linker. In other embodiments of this assay, the
tag is attached via a chemically cleavable linker or any other
suitable cleavable linker that can be cleaved to release the target
molecule from the tag at any desirable point in the assay. In this
embodiment, the Dual Catch Photocrosslink Assay described above is
modified such that, prior to detection of the photoaptamer, the
cleavable linker is used to release the photoaptamer covalent
complex from the solid support. The released photoaptamer covalent
complex can be detected and/or quantified using any of a variety of
suitable methods, including but not limited to mass spectrometry,
the Invader assay method, a DNA chip, quantitative polymerase chain
reaction (Q-PCR), and the like.
[0020] Kinetic Challenge. In another embodiment, a kinetic
challenge may be used to increase the specificity and sensitivity
of the assays disclosed herein. The kinetic challenge, first
described in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/623,580 and U.S.
application Ser. No. 11/623,535, each of which was filed on Jan.
16, 2007 and the contents of both of which are incorporated by
reference herein in their entireties, provides for using the
relatively long off-rates of specific aptamer target complexes
relative to non-specific complexes to increase the specificity of
certain assays. Furthermore, U.S. application Ser. No. 12/175,434,
filed Jul. 17, 2008 entitled "Method for Generating Aptamers with
Improved Off-Rates", which is incorporated herein by reference in
its entirety, discloses that slow off-rate aptamers can be
identified by employing a slow off-rate enrichment process during
the SELEX process and/or by using certain modified nucleotides.
(See, U.S. application Ser. No. 12/175,388, filed Jul. 17, 2008
entitled "Improved SELEX and PhotoSELEX" which is incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety).
[0021] The above described assays (the Single Catch Affinity
Assays, the Dual Catch Affinity Assays, the Single Catch
Photocrosslink Assay, and the Dual Catch Photocrosslink Assay) can
each be improved through the incorporation of a kinetic challenge.
For purposes of illustration only, the following describes how a
kinetic challenge can be added to selected embodiments of the Dual
Catch Affinity Assay and the Dual Catch Photocrosslink Assay. It
should be understood that a kinetic challenge can be added to the
any of other assays and methods described herein in a similar
manner. It should be further understood that the kinetic challenge
can be added at any suitable point in any of the described assays
and methods in addition to the places (steps) noted in the various
embodiments described herein.
[0022] In one embodiment, a kinetic challenge is inserted into the
Dual Capture Affinity Assay after the step in which the aptamer
affinity complex and uncomplexed aptamer that has associated with
the probe on the first solid support is partitioned from the
remainder of the mixture and before the step in which the aptamer
in the aptamer affinity complex is either released or is directly
detected or quantified. In one embodiment, the kinetic challenge is
performed after the aptamer affinity complex is released from the
first solid support. In this embodiment, the kinetic challenge is
performed by releasing the aptamer affinity complex into a buffer
that contains a high concentration of a competitor and subsequently
incubating the aptamer affinity complexes in the competitor
solution for a time less than or equal to the dissociation half
life of the aptamer affinity complex.
[0023] In another embodiment, a kinetic challenge is inserted into
the Dual Capture Photocrosslink Assay after the formation of the
aptamer affinity complex and before the crosslinking step. In one
embodiment, the kinetic challenge is performed by adding a
competitor to the mixture containing the aptamer affinity complex
and subsequently incubating the aptamer affinity complexes in the
competitor solution for a time less than or equal to the
dissociation half life of the aptamer affinity complex.
[0024] Detection and Quantification Methods. As mentioned above, it
is possible to detect the aptamer affinity complex (or aptamer
covalent complex in the case of the photocrosslink assays) by
employing a number of different nucleic acid detection techniques,
including mass spectrometry, the Invader assay, DNA chips,
quantitative PCR methods, and the like.
[0025] In one embodiment, the aptamer affinity complex (or aptamer
covalent complex) is detected and/or quantified using a DNA chip.
In this embodiment, the aptamer affinity complex (or aptamer
covalent complex) that has associated with the solid support is
eluted and is hybridized to a complementary probe sequence that has
been printed on a DNA chip. In one embodiment, the complementary
probe sequence is complementary to the entire aptamer. In another
embodiment, the complementary probe sequence is complementary to
only a portion of the aptamer. In another embodiment, the probe is
complementary to a sequence added to the aptamer for the purpose of
hybridization. In order to detect the hybridized aptamer (or
photoaptamer) on the DNA chip, a label can be introduced. In one
embodiment, the label is incorporated into the aptamer at the time
the aptamer (or photoaptamer) is synthesized. For example, a
fluorescent dye can be incorporated into a chemically (or
enzymatically) synthesized aptamer. In one embodiment, a label is
added to the aptamer during synthesis of the aptamer. In other
embodiments, a label is added to the aptamer at any time before,
during or after the assay. In another embodiment, nucleic acid
amplification techniques such as PCR can be used to amplify the
aptamer (or photoaptamer) population. In this case, a label can
also be incorporated as a part of the amplification step.
[0026] In another embodiment, the aptamer affinity complex (or
aptamer covalent complex) is detected and/or quantified using mass
spectrometry. In this embodiment, the aptamer affinity complex (or
aptamer covalent complex) that has associated with the solid
support is eluted and analyzed using mass spectrometry, which
produces a spectrum of peaks that can be used to identify, and
therefore detect, the target molecule. Once the target molecule has
been detected, optionally it can also be quantified by any number
of suitable techniques. In one embodiment, where the target
molecule is a protein or polypeptide, prior to using mass
spectrometry to analyze the aptamer affinity complex (or aptamer
covalent complex), the aptamer affinity complex (or aptamer
covalent complex) can be digested with protease enzymes, such as,
for example, proteinase K or trypsin, to produce fragments of the
bound target molecule that can be used to identify the target
molecule, and thereby enable detection and optional quantification
of the target molecule.
[0027] In another embodiment, the aptamer affinity complex (or
aptamer covalent complex) is detected and/or quantified using
Q-PCR. As mentioned above, this can be done either while the
aptamer affinity complex (or aptamer covalent complex) is attached
to the solid support or after release from the solid support. The
aptamer affinity complex (or aptamer covalent complex) is
quantified by performing PCR and determining, either directly or
indirectly, the amount or concentration of aptamer that had bound
to its target molecule in the test sample. The amount or
concentration of the target molecule in the test sample is
generally directly proportional to the amount or concentration of
the aptamer quantified by using Q-PCR. An exemplary method that may
be employed to quantify an aptamer affinity complex (or aptamer
covalent complex) in this manner is the TaqMan.RTM. assay (PE
Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.; see also U.S. Pat. No.
5,210,015).
[0028] In another embodiment, the aptamer is optionally dissociated
from its corresponding target molecule, prior to detection and/or
quantification. The free aptamer can be detected and measured using
any known suitable method for the detection and/or quantification
of nucleic acids.
[0029] Multiplexed Assays. In another embodiment, the assays and
methods described above are used to detect and/or quantify two or
more targets. In one embodiment, multiple aptamers are used in the
Dual Capture Affinity Assay to quantify and/or detect multiple
targets. After final release of the aptamers from the aptamer
affinity complexes, each of the aptamers can then be detected using
suitable methods for the multiplexed detection of nucleic acids. In
one method, a multiplexed DNA chip is used to detect and/or
quantify the aptamers. Any of the assays disclosed herein can be
performed in a multiplexed fashion to detect multiple targets.
Because there are no inherent limits to the scale of the
multiplexing, these multiplexed assays can be used to detect, for
example, 2 or more targets, 10 or more targets, 25 or more targets,
50 or more targets, 100 or more targets, 250 or more targets, 500
or more targets, or 1000 or more targets.
[0030] Reagents and Kits. In one embodiment, kits for various
detection applications, including without limitation diagnostic
kits, biomarker discovery kits, environmental testing kits,
biohazard or bioweapons detection kits and kits for detecting
targets in life science and analytical chemistry applications, can
be prepared based on the methods disclosed herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0031] FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate exemplary methods for the
detection and/or quantification of one or more target molecules
that may be present in a test sample.
[0032] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate exemplary methods for the
detection and/or quantification of one or more target molecules
that may be present in a test sample.
[0033] FIGS. 3A-3L illustrate exemplary aptamer constructs for use
with the assays described herein.
[0034] FIG. 4 presents a list of over 500 targets for which
aptamers have been produced. Many of these aptamers have been
designed to have slow dissociation rates from their respective
target.
[0035] FIG. 5A illustrates an example of a hybridization tag. FIGS.
5B to 5D illustrate examples of aptamer constructs including a
cleavable or releasable element, a tag (for example biotin), a
spacer, and a label (for example Cy3).
[0036] FIG. 6 illustrates the aptamer and primer constructs used in
the assay methods described in this disclosure. Cy3 represents a
Cyanine 3 dye, B a biotin, PC a photocleavable linker, ANA a
photoreactive crosslinking group, (AB).sub.2 a pair of biotin
residues separated by dA residues, and (T).sub.8 a poly dT linker.
Primer constructs are complementary to the complete 3' fixed region
of the aptamer constructs. FIG. 6A. Aptamer construct used in the
Single Catch Affinity Assay Protocol. FIG. 6B. Aptamer construct
used in the Dual Catch Affinity Assay Protocol. FIG. 6C. Aptamer
construct used in the Single Catch Crosslinking Assay Protocol.
FIG. 6D. Aptamer construct used in the Dual Catch Crosslinking
Assay Protocol.
[0037] FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C illustrate dose response curves (RFU vs
log input target protein concentration) for detection of target
proteins in buffer using the Affinity Assay Protocol with
Microarray Detection. Replicate no-protein control values are
plotted on the y-axis frame. The solid lines represent a sigmoidal
fit through the data points. The dashed lines represent two
standard deviations of the replicate no-protein values. FIG. 7A.
bFGF target protein. FIG. 7B. FGF7 target protein. FIG. 7C.
Lymphotactin target protein.
[0038] FIG. 8 illustrates the dose response curves for three
replicate measurements of the target protein Lymphotactin in buffer
using the Affinity Assay Protocol with Microarray Detection.
Replicate no-protein control values are plotted on the y-axis
frame. The solid lines represent sigmoidal fits through the data
points for each of the three replicates.
[0039] FIG. 9 illustrates the dose response curve (RFU versus log
input target protein concentration) for detection of the target
protein Lymphotactin in 10% human plasma using the Affinity Assay
Protocol and Microarray Detection. Replicate no-protein control
values are plotted on the y-axis frame and circled. The solid line
represents a sigmoidal fit through the data points.
[0040] FIG. 10 illustrates the dose response curve (RFU versus log
input target protein concentration) for detection of the target
protein Lymphotactin in 10% whole human blood using the Affinity
Assay Protocol and Microarray Detection. Replicate no-protein
control values are plotted on the y-axis frame and circled. The
solid line represents a sigmoidal fit through the data points.
[0041] FIG. 11 illustrates the dose response curve (RFU versus log
input target protein concentration) for the detection of the target
protein Angiogenin in buffer using the Photo-Crosslink Assay
Protocol with MicroArray Detection. The solid line represents a
sigmoidal fit through the data points. Four replicate no-protein
data points are circled.
[0042] FIG. 12 illustrates the dose response curve (detected
aptamer concentration versus input target protein concentration)
for detection of Angiogenin in buffer using the Affinity Assay
Protocol with Q-PCR Detection. Four replicate no-protein
measurements are indicated on the y-axis as open circles.
[0043] FIGS. 13A to 13C illustrate dose response curves for slow
off-rate aptamers versus traditional aptamers for three different
targets.
[0044] FIG. 14 illustrates the sample layout for an assay
reproducibility study.
[0045] FIG. 15 illustrates the CV's of the pooled and unpooled
sample study.
[0046] FIG. 16 exhibits the base modifications of nucleotides
discussed in this disclosure. The R groups that may be used are
described in addition to the linkers (X) that may be used between
the nucleotide attachment point and the R group is shown. The
positions of attachment for the various "R" groups are also
indicated on the respective R groups.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0047] The practice of the current invention employs, unless
otherwise indicated, conventional methods of chemistry,
microbiology, molecular biology, and recombinant DNA techniques
within the level of skill in the art. Such techniques are explained
fully in the literature. See, e.g., Sambrook, et al. Molecular
Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (Current Edition); DNA Cloning: A
Practical Approach, vol. I & II (D. Glover, ed.);
Oligonucleotide Synthesis (N. Gait, ed., Current Edition); Nucleic
Acid Hybridization (B. Hames & S. Higgins, eds., Current
Edition); Transcription and Translation (B. Hames & S. Higgins,
eds., Current Edition).
[0048] All publications, published patent documents, and patent
applications cited in this specification are indicative of the
level of skill in the art(s) to which the invention pertains. All
publications, published patent documents, and patent applications
cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same
extent as though each individual publication, published patent
document, or patent application was specifically and individually
indicated as being incorporated by reference.
[0049] The present disclosure includes improved methods, devices,
reagents, and kits for the detection and/or quantification of one
or more target molecules that may be present in a test sample. The
disclosed methods, devices, reagents, and kits provide high
sensitivity assays for the detection and/or quantification of
target molecules in a test sample by optimizing conditions that
affect one or more of (1) the activity of aptamers, (2) the
efficiency of achieving binding equilibria for aptamer-target
molecule complexes, (3) the formation of covalent bond(s) between
an aptamer and its target molecule, (4) the removal of excess
reagents and sample components, (5) the use of slow off rate
aptamers, (6) desirable aptamer constructions, and (7) the
detection of aptamer-target molecule complexes.
[0050] It is noteworthy that, unless otherwise specified in a
particular embodiment, the methods for the detection and/or
quantification of a target molecule described herein are
independent of the specific order in which the steps are described.
For purposes of illustration, the methods are described as a
specific sequence of steps; however, it is to be understood that
any number of permutations of the specified sequence of steps is
possible, so long as the objective of the particular assay being
described is accomplished. Stated another way, the steps recited in
any of the disclosed methods may be performed in any feasible
order, and the methods of the invention are not limited to any
particular order presented in any of the described embodiments, the
examples, or the appended claims. Further, for convenience and ease
of presentation, the various methods are described with reference
to a single target molecule and a single aptamer. However, it is to
be understood that any of the described methods can be performed in
a multiplex format that can provide for the simultaneous detection
and/or quantification of multiple targets using multiple aptamers,
such that, for example, multiple target molecules in a test sample
can be detected and/or quantified by contacting the test sample
with multiple aptamers, wherein each aptamer has a specific
affinity for a particular target molecule (i.e., in a multiplex
format).
[0051] With reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the presence of a target
molecule in a test sample is detected and/or quantified by first
contacting a test sample with an aptamer that has a specific
affinity for a target molecule. The method may be applied to the
detection and/or quantification of a number of specific targets by
use of the corresponding number of specific aptamers, i.e. a
multiplex format. A single target discussion is presented only for
ease of presentation. An aptamer affinity complex is formed by the
aptamer binding to its target molecule if the test sample contains
the target molecule. The aptamer affinity complex is optionally
converted, using a method appropriate to the aptamer being
employed, to an aptamer covalent complex where the aptamer is
covalently bound to its target molecule. A partition step is then
employed to remove free aptamer. The aptamer affinity complex (or
aptamer covalent complex) is detected and/or quantified. A number
of different detection methods can be used to detect the aptamer
affinity complex, for example, the Invader assay, hybridization
assays or DNA chips, mass spectroscopy, or Q-PCR.
[0052] As discussed above, the assays described here have been
grouped for ease in presentation into 4 assay formats: Single Catch
Affinity Assays; Dual Catch Affinity Assays, Single Catch
Photocrosslink Assays; and Dual Catch Photocrosslink Assays.
However, it should be understood that other groupings,
combinations, and ordering of steps are contemplated and all fall
within the scope of the disclosure. All four assay formats share a
common step in which aptamer-target complexes are separated from
free aptamer (or free photoaptamer) by a partitioning step that
captures the target, such as, for example, protein. This
partitioning step is referred to herein as the "Catch 2" partition.
The two "dual-catch" assays share an additional commonality in
which aptamer-target complexes are separated from free target by a
partitioning step that captures the aptamer. This latter
partitioning step is referred to herein as the "Catch 1" partition.
Methods for implementing each of these steps are described in
detail below.
[0053] The use of a kinetic challenge in each of these assay
formats is further disclosed. Traditionally, specificity in the
detection of a desired target has been improved through the use of
a sandwich assay in which two capture reagents are used. It has
surprisingly been observed that the application of a kinetic
challenge to a detection procedure employing aptamers eliminates
the need to enhance specificity by introducing a second capture
reagent. If a kinetic challenge is introduced, non-specific
complexes between the aptamer and any non-target molecules are
unlikely to re-form following their dissociation. Since
non-specific complexes generally dissociate more rapidly than an
aptamer affinity complex, a kinetic challenge reduces the
likelihood that an aptamer will be involved in a non-specific
complex with a non-target. An effective kinetic challenge can
provide the assay with additional specificity, beyond that of the
initial aptamer binding event and any subsequent covalent
interaction. Thus, the kinetic challenge offers a second
determinant of specificity in these detection methods. Methods for
implementing the kinetic challenge are described in detail
below.
[0054] With reference to FIGS. 2A (dual step affinity assay) and 2B
(dual step crosslinking assay), in an exemplary method for the
detection and/or quantification of a target molecule that may be
present in a test sample, a test sample is contacted with an
aptamer (or photoaptamer) that includes a first tag and has a
specific affinity for a target molecule. An aptamer affinity
complex that includes an aptamer (or photoaptamer) bound to its
target molecule is allowed to form, where the test sample contains
the target molecule. In the photocrosslinking example (2B), the
aptamer affinity complex is converted, using a method appropriate
to the aptamer being employed, to an aptamer covalent complex where
the photoaptamer is covalently bound to its target molecule. The
aptamer affinity complex (or aptamer covalent complex) is attached
to a first solid support via a first capture element. The
attachment is accomplished by contacting the first solid support
with the aptamer affinity complex (or aptamer covalent complex) and
allowing the tag included on the aptamer to associate either,
directly or indirectly, with a first capture element that is
attached to the first solid support. The aptamer affinity complex
(or aptamer covalent complex) that has associated with the first
capture element on the first solid support is partitioned from the
remainder of the mixture. Following partitioning the aptamer
affinity complex (or aptamer covalent complex) is released from the
first solid support using a method appropriate to the particular
tag being employed. Alternatively, the tag can be attached the
aptamer via a cleavable moiety, where such cleavable moiety is now
cleaved to release the aptamer affinity (or aptamer covalent
complex) from the first solid support. A second tag (which may be
the same or different from the first tag) is attached to the target
molecule of the aptamer affinity complex (or aptamer covalent
complex). Optionally, a kinetic challenge can be performed to
increase the assay specificity and decrease the background signal.
The aptamer affinity complex (or aptamer covalent complex) is
attached to a second solid support. The attachment is accomplished
by contacting the second solid support with the aptamer affinity
complex (or aptamer covalent complex) and allowing the second tag
included on the target to associate either, directly or indirectly,
with a second capture element that is attached to the second solid
support. The aptamer affinity complex (or aptamer covalent complex)
that has associated with the second capture element on the second
solid support is partitioned from the remainder of the mixture. The
aptamer affinity complex (or aptamer covalent complex) is detected
and optionally quantified.
[0055] In another embodiment, the aptamer (or photoaptamer) is
first dissociated from its respective target molecule and the free
aptamer (or photoaptamer) is detected and optionally
quantified.
[0056] The aptamer affinity complex can be detected by utilizing
any suitable nucleic acid detection technique, such as, for
example, hybridization or a DNA chip, Q-PCR, mass spectroscopy
(MS), the Invader assay, and the like. Depending on which technique
is employed, the aptamer may be designed or modified to include a
label. This can be accomplished during synthesis (either
enzymatically or chemically) or at any time during the assay (i.e.,
at any time prior to detection).
[0057] The methods disclosed herein enable the detection of the
presence and amount of a target molecule by detecting free aptamer
eluted from the assay. This allows for convenient detection and
quantification of the target molecule, due to the relative
simplicity of detection, quantification, and amplification of
nucleic acids, and provides target detection assays that have a
very favorable signal-to-noise ratio.
[0058] Single Catch (Catch 2-only) Affinity Assay
[0059] In one embodiment, a single catch affinity assay is
performed using a catch 2 partition, see FIG. 1A or 1B. This method
works well when the sample matrix is not very complex so that other
components in the sample do not compete for the tag. It also works
well for samples in which the target is present in high copy number
or concentration.
[0060] Aptamers having high affinity and specificity for a target
molecule are provided. In one embodiment, the aptamer construct
illustrated in FIG. 6A is used. In this embodiment, the aptamer is
contacted with a sample that may contain a target molecule to form
a mixture containing the aptamer, the target molecule, and
non-target molecules, or sample matrix. Where the target molecule
is present in the sample, aptamer affinity complexes are formed.
The mixture may optionally be incubated for a period of time
sufficient to achieve equilibrium binding of the aptamer to the
target molecule, (e.g., at least about 10 minutes, at least about
20 minutes, at least about 30 minutes).
[0061] In one embodiment, the mixture may optionally be subject to
a kinetic challenge. The kinetic challenge helps reduce any
non-specific binding between the aptamer and any non-target
molecules present in the sample. In one embodiment, 10 mM dextran
sulfate is added and the mixture is incubated for about 15
minutes.
[0062] In one embodiment, the catch-2 partition is performed to
remove free aptamer. In one embodiment, the mixture containing
aptamer affinity complexes is treated with an agent that introduces
a capture tag to the target molecule component of the aptamer
affinity complexes. In other embodiments, the tag is introduced
before the aptamer is contacted with the text mixture, either
before equilibrium binding or before the kinetic challenge. In one
embodiment, the target is a protein or peptide, and a biotin tag is
attached to the target molecule by treating with NHS-PEO4-biotin.
The mixture is then contacted with a solid support, that has a
capture element adhered to its surface which is capable of binding
to the target capture tag. In this embodiment, the capture element
on the solid support is typically selected such that it binds to
the target capture tag with high affinity and specificity. In one
embodiment, the solid support is magnetic beads (such as DynaBeads
MyOne Streptavidin C1) contained within a well of a microtiter
plate and the capture element is streptavidin. The magnetic beads
provide a convenient method for the separation of partitioned
components of the mixture. Aptamer affinity complexes contained in
the mixture are thereby bound to the solid support through the
binding interaction of the target capture tag and capture element
on the solid support. The aptamer affinity complex is then
partitioned from the remainder of the mixture, e.g. by washing the
support to remove non-complexed aptamers. In one embodiment,
aptamer from the aptamer affinity complex can then be released for
further processing by one or more of the following treatments: high
salt, high pH, low pH or elevated temperature.
[0063] In another embodiment, the aptamer released from the catch-2
partition is detected and optionally quantified by any suitable
nucleic acid detection methods, such as, for example, DNA chip
hybridization, Q-PCR, mass spectroscopy, the Invader assay, and the
like. In another embodiment the aptamer in the aptamer affinity
complex is detected and optionally quantified while still in
contact with the solid support. In one embodiment, the aptamer
comprises a detectable moiety to facilitate this detection step.
The detectable moiety is chosen based on the detection method to be
employed. In one embodiment, the detectable moiety or label is
added to the aptamer during synthesis or prior to the assay. In
another embodiment, the detectable moiety is added to the aptamer
either during the assay or during the detection. The detected
aptamer can then be correlated with the amount or concentration of
target in the original test sample.
[0064] Dual Catch (Catch 1 & 2) Affinity Assay
[0065] In one embodiment, a dual catch affinity assay is similar to
the single catch affinity assay, but with an additional
partitioning step to provide additional sensitivity and
specificity. In one embodiment, aptamers having high affinity and
specificity for a target molecule and having a first releasable tag
are provided. In another embodiment, the first releasable tag is
added at any time in the assay prior to the catch 1 partition, see
FIGS. 2A and 2B. In one embodiment, this first releasable tag is a
photocleavable biotin. In one embodiment, the aptamer construct
illustrated in FIG. 6B is used. These and other tags and cleavable
moieties and aptamer containing such tags and cleavable moieties
are described. The aptamer is contacted with a sample that may
contain a target molecule to form a mixture containing the aptamer,
the target molecule, and non-target molecules, or sample matrix.
Where the target molecule is present in the sample, aptamer-target
molecule complexes (aptamer affinity complexes) are formed. The
mixture may optionally be incubated for a period of time sufficient
to achieve equilibrium binding of the aptamer to the target
molecule (e.g., at least about 10 minutes, at least about 20
minutes, at least about 30 minutes).
[0066] In one embodiment, the catch 1 partition is performed to
remove any free target and sample matrix. The mixture is contacted
with a first solid support having a first capture element adhered
to its surface which is capable of binding to the aptamer capture
tag, preferably with high affinity and specificity. In one
embodiment, the first releasable tag is a photocleavable biotin,
the first solid support is agarose beads in a column and the
capture element is streptavidin. For example, Pierce Immobilized
Streptavidin beads may be used. Aptamer affinity complexes
contained in the mixture are thereby bound to the first solid
support through the binding interaction of the first releasable tag
and first capture element. The aptamer affinity complexes are
partitioned from the remainder of the mixture, e.g. by washing the
first solid support to remove non-bound molecules.
[0067] In one embodiment, aptamer affinity complexes bound to the
solid support are then treated with an agent that introduces a
second tag to the target molecule component of the aptamer affinity
complexes. In one embodiment, the target is a protein or a peptide,
and the target is biotinylated by treating it with NHS-PEO4-biotin.
The second tag introduced to the target molecule may be the same as
or different from the aptamer capture tag. If the second tag is the
same as the first tag, or the aptamer capture tag, free capture
sites on the first solid support may be blocked prior to the
initiation of this tagging step. In this exemplary embodiment, the
first solid support is washed with free biotin prior to the
initiation of target tagging. Tagging methods, and in particular,
tagging of targets such as peptides and proteins are described. In
other embodiments, tagging of the target is performed at any other
point in the assay prior to initiation of the catch 2 partitioning,
see FIGS. 2A and 2B. When the first and second tags are the same,
the target is tagged after the capture step of the catch 1
partitioning has been performed.
[0068] Catch 1 partitioning is completed by releasing of the
aptamer affinity complexes from the first solid support. In one
embodiment, the first releasable tag is a photocleavable moiety
that is cleaved by irradiation with a UV lamp under conditions that
cleave .gtoreq.about 90% of the first releasable tag. In other
embodiments, the release is accomplished by the method appropriate
for the selected releasable moiety in the first releasable tag.
Aptamer affinity complexes may be eluted and collected for further
use in the assay or may be contacted with another solid support to
conduct the remaining steps of the assay (FIGS. 2A and 2B).
[0069] In one embodiment, the mixture may optionally be subject to
a kinetic challenge. The kinetic challenge helps reduce any
non-specific binding between aptamers and non-target molecules. In
one embodiment, 10 mM dextran sulfate is added to the aptamer
affinity complexes, and the mixture is incubated for about 15
minutes. In another embodiment, the kinetic challenge is initiated
by performing the catch 1 elution in the presence of 10 mM dextran
sulfate. In other embodiments, the kinetic challenge is performed
after the equilibrium binding step and before the catch 2
partitioning.
[0070] In one embodiment, the catch-2 partition is performed to
remove free aptamer. As described above, in one embodiment, a
second tag used in the catch-2 partition may be added to the target
while the aptamer affinity complex is still in contact with the
solid support used in the catch-1 partition. In other embodiments,
the second tag may be added to the target at another point in the
assay prior to initiation of catch 2 partitioning. The mixture is
contacted with a solid support, the solid support having a capture
element (second) adhered to its surface which is capable of binding
to the target capture tag (second tag), preferably with high
affinity and specificity. In one embodiment, the solid support is
magnetic beads (such as DynaBeads MyOne Streptavidin C1) contained
within a well of a microtiter plate and the capture element (second
capture element) is streptavidin. The magnetic beads provide a
convenient method for the separation of partitioned components of
the mixture. Aptamer affinity complexes contained in the mixture
are thereby bound to the solid support through the binding
interaction of the target (second) capture tag and the second
capture element on the second solid support. The aptamer affinity
complex is then partitioned from the remainder of the mixture, e.g.
by washing the support to remove non-complexed aptamers. In one
embodiment, aptamer from the aptamer affinity complex can then be
released for further processing by one or more of the following
treatments: high salt, high pH, low pH or elevated temperature.
[0071] In another embodiment, the aptamer released from the catch-2
partition is detected and optionally quantified by any suitable
nucleic acid detection methods, such as, for example, DNA chip
hybridization, Q-PCR, mass spectroscopy, the Invader assay, and the
like. These detection methods are described in further detail
below. In another embodiment the aptamer in the aptamer affinity
complex is detected and optionally quantified while still in
contact with the solid support. In one embodiment, the aptamer
comprises a detectable moiety to facilitate this detection step.
The detectable moiety is chosen based on the detection method to be
employed. In one embodiment, the detectable moiety (label) is added
to the aptamer during synthesis or any time prior to the assay. In
another embodiment, the detectable moiety is added to the aptamer
either during the assay or during the detection. The detected
aptamer can be correlated to the amount or concentration of the
target in the test sample.
[0072] Single Catch (Catch 2-only) Crosslinking Assay
[0073] In one embodiment, a single catch crosslinking assay is
performed using a catch 2 partition. This method works well when
the sample matrix is not very complex so that other components in
the sample do not compete for the tag. It also works well for
samples in which the target is present in high copy number or
concentration. In some cases, additional benefit is provided by
forming a covalent link between the photoaptamer and the target as
it may allow more stringent washes in steps after the crosslinking
has been performed (FIG. 1B).
[0074] Photoaptamers having high affinity and specificity for a
target molecule are provided. In one embodiment, the crosslinking
moiety of the photoaptamer is linked to the aptamer via a cleavable
linker. In one embodiment, the crosslinking group is ANA
(4-azido-2-nitro-aniline) and the photocleavable group is PC
Linker. In one embodiment, the aptamer construct illustrated in
FIG. 6C is used. The photoaptamer is contacted with a sample that
may contain target molecules to form a mixture containing the
aptamer, the target molecule, and non-target molecules, or sample
matrix. Where the target molecule is present in the sample,
(photo)aptamer affinity complexes are formed. The mixture may
optionally be incubated for a period of time sufficient to achieve
equilibrium binding of the aptamers and target molecules, (e.g.,
for at least about 10 minutes, at least about 20 minutes, or at
least about 30 minutes).
[0075] In one embodiment, the mixture may optionally be subject to
a kinetic challenge. The kinetic challenge helps reduce any
non-specific binding between photoaptamers and non-target
molecules. In one embodiment, 10 mM dextran sulfate is added and
the mixture is incubated for about 15 minutes.
[0076] In this embodiment, the photoaptamer affinity complexes are
converted into aptamer covalent complexes by irradiation with light
at the appropriate wavelength. For example, irradiation at about
470 nM can be used to crosslink ANA containing photoaptamers to a
protein or peptide target.
[0077] In one embodiment, the catch-2 partition is performed to
remove free photoaptamer. In one embodiment, the mixture containing
the aptamer covalent complex is treated with an agent that
introduces a capture tag to the target molecule component of the
aptamer covalent complexes. In other embodiments, the tag is
introduced before the aptamers are contacted with the test sample,
before the equilibrium binding, or before the kinetic challenge. In
one embodiment, the target is a protein or a peptide, and a biotin
tag is attached to the target molecule by treatment with
NHS-PEO4-biotin. The mixture is contacted with a solid support, the
solid support having a capture element adhered to its surface which
is capable of binding to the target capture tag, preferably with
high affinity and specificity. In one embodiment, the solid support
is magnetic beads (such as DynaBeads MyOne Streptavidin C1)
contained within a well of a microtiter plate and the capture
element is streptavidin. The magnetic beads provide a convenient
method for the separation of partitioned components of the mixture.
Aptamer covalent complexes contained in the mixture are thereby
bound to the solid support through the binding interaction of the
target capture tag and capture element. The aptamer covalent
complex is partitioned from the remainder of the mixture, e.g. by
washing the support to remove non-complexed aptamers. In one
embodiment, photoaptamer from the aptamer covalent complex can be
released for further processing by a method appropriate for the
cleavable moiety. For example, to cleave the PC Linker, the mixture
is irradiated with a UV lamp for about 20 minutes.
[0078] In another embodiment, the photoaptamer released from the
catch-2 partition is detected and optionally quantified by any
suitable nucleic acid detection method, such as, for example, DNA
chip hybridization, Q-PCR, mass spectroscopy, the Invader assay,
and the like. These detection methods are described in further
detail below. In another embodiment the photoaptamer in the aptamer
covalent complex is detected and optionally quantified while still
in contact with the solid support. The detected photoaptamer can be
correlated with the amount or concentration of target in the
original test sample.
[0079] Dual Catch (Catch 1 & 2) Photocrosslinking Assay
[0080] In one embodiment, a dual catch photocrosslinking assay,
similar to the single catch photocrosslinking assay, uses an
additional partitioning step to provide additional sensitivity and
specificity (FIG. 2B).
[0081] Photoaptamers having high affinity and specificity for a
target molecule are provided. In one embodiment, the crosslinking
moiety of the photoaptamer is linked to the aptamer via a cleavable
linker. In one embodiment, the crosslinking group is ANA
(4-azido-2-nitro-aniline) and the photocleavable group is a PC
Linker. In one embodiment, the photoaptamer also comprises a first
releasable tag. In another embodiment, the first releasable tag is
added at any time in the assay prior to the catch 1 partition. In
one embodiment, the first releasable tag moiety is a biotin and the
releasable element is a hybridization linker. In one embodiment,
the photoaptamer construct illustrated in FIG. 6D is used. The
photoaptamer is contacted with a sample that may contain target
molecules to form a mixture containing the aptamer, the target
molecule, and non-target molecules, or sample matrix. Where the
target molecule is present in the sample, (photo)aptamer affinity
complexes are formed. The mixture may optionally be incubated for a
period of time sufficient to achieve equilibrium binding of the
aptamers and target molecules (e.g., for at least about 10 minutes,
at least about 20 minutes, or at least about 30 minutes).
[0082] In one embodiment, the mixture may optionally be subject to
a kinetic challenge. The kinetic challenge helps reduce any
non-specific binding between photoaptamers and non-target
molecules. In one particular embodiment, 10 mM dextran sulfate is
added and the mixture is incubated for about 15 minutes.
[0083] (Photo)aptamer affinity complexes are converted into aptamer
covalent complexes by irradiation with light at the appropriate
wavelength. For example, irradiation at about 470 nM can be used to
crosslink ANA containing photoaptamers to a protein target.
[0084] In one embodiment, the catch 1 partition is performed to
remove free target and sample matrix. The mixture is contacted with
a first solid support having a first capture element adhered to its
surface which is capable of binding to the aptamer capture tag,
preferably with high affinity and specificity. In one embodiment,
the first releasable tag comprises a tag moiety that is a biotin,
the first solid support is agarose beads in a column and the first
capture element is streptavidin. For example, Pierce Immobilized
Streptavidin beads may be used. Aptamer covalent complexes
contained in the mixture are thereby bound to the first solid
support through the binding interaction of the first releasable tag
and first capture element. The aptamer covalent complexes are
partitioned from the remainder of the mixture, e.g. by washing the
first solid support to remove non-bound molecules.
[0085] In one embodiment, aptamer covalent complexes that remain
bound to the first solid support are then treated with an agent
that introduces a second tag to the target molecule component of
the aptamer affinity complexes, e.g. biotinylation of a protein or
peptide target molecule by treatment with NHS-PEO4-biotin. The
second tag introduced to the target molecule may be the same as or
different from the first tag. If the second tag is the same as the
first tag, free capture sites on the first solid support may be
blocked prior to the initiation of this tagging step. In this
embodiment, the first solid support is washed with free biotin
prior to the initiation of target tagging. Tagging methods, and in
particular, tagging of targets such as peptides and proteins are
described in detail below. In other embodiments, tagging of the
target is performed at any other point in the assay prior to
initiation of catch 2 partitioning. If the first and second tags
are the same, the target is tagged after the capture step of the
catch 1 partitioning has been performed.
[0086] In another embodiment, the catch 1 partitioning is completed
by releasing the aptamer covalent complexes from the first solid
support. In one embodiment, the first releasable tag is a
hybridization tag complementary to all or some of the first capture
element on said solid support. This first releasable tag is cleaved
by treating the mixture with conditions that will disrupt the
hybridization linker, such as high pH. In one embodiment, 20 mM
NaOH is added to the mixture. In other embodiments, the release of
the aptamer covalent complex is accomplished by any method that is
appropriate for the releasable moiety in the first releasable tag.
Aptamer covalent complexes may be eluted and collected for further
use in the assay or may be contacted with a further solid support
in order to conduct the remaining steps of the assay.
[0087] In one embodiment, the catch-2 partition is performed to
remove free photoaptamer. The mixture is contacted with a solid
support that has, a capture element adhered to its surface which is
capable of binding to the second capture tag, preferably with high
affinity and specificity. In one embodiment, the solid support is
magnetic beads (such as DynaBeads MyOne Streptavidin C1) contained
within a well of a microtiter plate and the capture element is
streptavidin. The magnetic beads provide a convenient method for
the separation of partitioned components of the mixture. Aptamer
covalent complexes contained in the mixture are thereby bound to
the solid support through the binding interaction of the target
second capture tag and second capture element. The aptamer covalent
complex is then partitioned from the remainder of the mixture, e.g.
by washing the support to remove non-complexed aptamers. In one
embodiment, photoaptamer from the aptamer covalent complex can then
be released for further processing by a method appropriate for the
cleavable moiety. For example, to cleave the PC Linker, the mixture
is irradiated with a UV lamp for about 20 minutes.
[0088] In another embodiment, the photoaptamer released from the
catch-2 partition is detected and optionally quantified by any
suitable nucleic acid detection method, such as, for example, DNA
chip hybridization, Q-PCR, mass spectroscopy, the Invader assay,
and the like. In another embodiment the photoaptamer in the aptamer
covalent complex is detected and optionally quantified while still
in contact with the solid support. The detected photoaptamer can be
correlated with the amount or concentration of target in the
original test sample.
[0089] In any of the embodiments disclosed herein, the test sample
may be prepared as two or more dilutions of the test sample, which
may increase the dynamic range of target detection by the methods
disclosed herein. The individual dilution test samples are
separately assayed up to and including aptamer (or covalent)
complex formation, after which the dilution test samples may be
pooled for the remainder of the assay and detected simultaneously
on a single solid support. In one embodiment, each dilution test
sample includes a unique aptamer, thereby enabling a single
measurement of the corresponding target. In another embodiment, an
aptamer can be added to two or more dilutions, each dilution
contacting a distinctly tagged aptamer for a particular target,
allowing for the detection of a specific aptamer signal for each of
the different dilution samples on a single solid support. Chaining
together diluted samples in this manner can extend a dynamic range
for a single target molecule over many orders of magnitude and add
accuracy when overlapping regions of quantification lead to
multiple determinations of a single target's concentration.
[0090] In any of the embodiments disclosed herein, the beads, or
solid support, may be suspended after discarding the supernatant
containing un-complexed target and test sample or sample matrix. In
one embodiment, prior to eluting the free aptamer and aptamer (or
covalent) complex from the beads and at any point up to suspending
the beads, the aptamer (or covalent) complex may be contacted with
a labeling agent, followed by repeated pelleting and washing to
remove unreactive labeling agent prior to contacting the solid
support with the aptamer (or covalent) complex for detection and/or
quantification of the target molecule.
[0091] In one embodiment, a set of test samples is prepared as
serial dilutions to which a tagged aptamer (or tagged photoaptamer)
with a specific affinity for a target molecule is introduced. The
same aptamer with a different tag can be added to each test sample
dilution. As further described herein, following the formation of
an aptamer affinity complex (or the optional conversion to an
aptamer covalent complex) the individual test samples can be pooled
and contacted with a labeling agent either before or after
attachment of the aptamer (or covalent) complex to the solid
support. The target molecule, if present in the test sample, is
detected and/or quantified by detecting the labeling agent on the
aptamer (or covalent) complex. The resultant signals detected for
each aptamer having a different tag can be combined to accurately
quantify the amount or concentration of the target molecule in the
original test sample. For example, the first dilution may result in
a maximal signal for the target, yielding only semi-quantitative
information, while the second dilution may result in a signal that
is less than saturating, allowing for an accurate quantification of
the target in the original test sample.
[0092] In another embodiment, a set of test samples is prepared as
serial dilutions to which a tagged aptamer (or tagged photoaptamer)
with a specific affinity for a target molecule is introduced.
Different aptamers having unique tags may be added to each sample
dilution. As further described herein, following the formation of
aptamer affinity complexes (or the optional conversion to aptamer
covalent complexes) the individual test samples can be pooled and
contacted with a labeling agent either before or after attachment
of the aptamer (or covalent) complexes to the solid support. Target
molecules present in the test sample are detected and/or quantified
by detecting the labeling agent on the aptamer (or covalent)
complex. The resultant signals can be quantified for target ranges
over many orders of magnitude depending on the different serial
dilutions of the original sample.
[0093] In any of the embodiments disclosed herein, a test sample
may be compared to a reference sample. A "reference sample" refers
herein to any material, solution, or mixture that contains a
plurality of molecules and is known to include at least one target
molecule. The precise amount or concentration of any target
molecules present in the reference sample may also be known. The
term reference sample includes biological samples, as defined
herein, and samples that may be used for environmental or
toxicology testing, such as contaminated or potentially
contaminated water and industrial effluents, for example. A
reference sample may also be an end product, intermediate product,
or by-product of a preparatory process, for example a manufacturing
process. A reference sample may include any suitable assay medium,
buffer, or diluent that has been added to a material, solution, or
mixture obtained from an organism or from some other source (e.g.,
the environment or an industrial source).
[0094] In one embodiment, aptamers with two different probes are
prepared. For example, one aptamer may have a Cy3 dye and the other
the Cy5 dye. Using the dual capture crosslinking assay as an
example, the reference sample is exposed to one aptamer and the
test sample to the other. Each sample is separately treated in an
identical manner up to and including the crosslinking step. After
crosslinking, the samples can be equally mixed and the remaining
steps of the assay may be carried out. A direct comparison of any
differential expression (i.e., differential amount or concentration
of the target in the samples) between the reference sample and the
test sample is possible by measuring the signal from each labeling
agent separately. It should be understood that this method can be
incorporated into any of the other assays describe herein. Further,
in addition to using different dyes, including the use of
fluorescent dyes, other labels can be employed to differentiate the
signal from each of the different aptamers. For example, in another
embodiment, the aptamers used in each of the samples may have
different sequence labels. This method is useful, for example, when
the readout is Q-PCR or DNA hybridization arrays.
[0095] In one embodiment, the reference sample can be a pooled
biological sample representing a control group. In another
embodiment, the reference sample can be a biological sample
obtained from an individual, collected at a first time, and the
test sample can be obtained from the same individual but collected
at a second time, thereby facilitating a longitudinal study of an
individual by measuring and evaluating any changes in the amount or
concentration of one or more target molecules in multiple
biological samples provided by the individual over time.
[0096] Any of the methods described herein may be used to conduct a
multiplexed analysis of a test sample. Any such multiplexed
analysis can include the use of at least two, at least tens, at
least hundreds, or at least thousands of aptamers to simultaneously
assay an equal number of target molecules in a test sample, such as
a biological sample, for example. In these embodiments, a plurality
of aptamers (or labeled photoaptamers, each of which recognizes and
optionally cros slinks to a different analyte, is introduced to the
test sample and any of the above-described assays can be performed.
After release of the aptamers, any suitable multiplexed nucleic
acid detection methods can be employed to measure the different
aptamers that have been released. In one embodiment, this can be
accomplished by hybridization to complementary probes that are
separately arranged on a solid surface. In another embodiment, each
of the different aptamers may be detected based on molecular weight
using mass spectroscopy. In yet another embodiment, each of the
different aptamers can be detected based on electrophoretic
mobility, such as, for example, in capillary electrophoresis, in a
gel, or by liquid chromatography. In another embodiment, unique PCR
probes can be used to quantify each of the different aptamers using
Q-PCR.
[0097] In each of the assays disclosed herein, a kinetic challenge
is used to increase the specificity of the assay and to reduce
non-specific binding. In one embodiment, which can optionally be
employed in each of the assays described herein, additional
reduction in the non-specific binding may be accomplished by either
preincubation of a competitor with the test sample or by addition
of a competitor to the mixture during equilibrium binding. In one
embodiment, 4 .mu.M of a Z-block competitor oligonucleotide
(5'-(ACZZ).sub.28AC-3', where Z=5-benzyl-dUTP) is preincubated for
about 5 minutes with the test mixture.
[0098] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to kits
useful for conveniently performing any of the methods disclosed
herein to analyze test samples. To enhance the versatility of the
disclosed methods, the reagents can be provided in packaged
combination, in the same or separate containers, so that the ratio
of the reagents provides for substantial optimization of the method
and assay. The reagents may each be in separate containers or
various reagents can be combined in one or more containers
depending upon the cross-reactivity and stability of the
reagents.
[0099] A kit comprises, in packaged combination, at least one
tagged aptamer and one or more solid supports, each including at
least one capture agent. The kit may also include washing solutions
such as buffered aqueous medium for sample dilution as well as
array washing, sample preparation reagents, and so forth. The kit
may further contain reagents useful in introducing a second tag,
generally through modification or derivatization of the target. In
addition the kit may contain reagents suitable for performing the
desired kinetic challenge during the analytical method. The
relative amounts of the various reagents in the kits can be varied
widely to provide for concentrations of the reagents that
substantially optimize the reactions that need to occur during the
assay and to further substantially optimize the sensitivity of the
assay. Under appropriate circumstances, one or more of the reagents
in the kit can be provided as a dry powder, usually lyophilized,
including excipients, which upon dissolution will provide a reagent
solution having the appropriate concentrations for performing a
method or assay in accordance with the present disclosure. The kit
can further include a written description of a method in accordance
with any of the methods as described herein.
[0100] In one embodiment, a kit for the detection and/or
quantification of one or more target molecules that may be present
in a test sample includes at least one aptamer having specific
affinity for a target molecule and comprising a tag; and a solid
support, wherein the solid support includes at least one capture
agent disposed thereon, and wherein the capture element is capable
of associating with the tag on the aptamer.
[0101] In another embodiment, a kit for the detection and/or
quantification of one or more target molecules that may be present
in a test sample includes at least one aptamer having specific
affinity for a target molecule and comprising a tag and a label;
and a solid support, wherein the solid support includes at least
one capture agent disposed thereon, and wherein the capture element
is capable of associating with the tag on the aptamer.
[0102] In another embodiment, a kit for the detection and/or
quantification of one or more target molecules that may be present
in a test sample includes at least one aptamer having specific
affinity for a target molecule and comprising a releasable tag and
a label; and a solid support, wherein the solid support includes at
least one capture agent disposed thereon, and wherein the capture
element is capable of associating with the tag on the aptamer.
[0103] In addition, any of the above-described kits may contain
reagents and materials for the performance of a kinetic challenge
during the detection method of the kit.
[0104] As used herein, "nucleic acid," "oligonucleotide," and
"polynucleotide" are used interchangeably to refer to a polymer of
nucleotides of any length, and such nucleotides may include
deoxyribonucleotides, ribonucleotides, and/or analogs or chemically
modified deoxyribonucleotides or ribonucleotides. The terms
"polynucleotide," "oligonucleotide," and "nucleic acid" include
double- or single-stranded molecules as well as triple-helical
molecules.
[0105] If present, chemical modifications of a nucleotide can
include, singly or in any combination, 2'-position sugar
modifications, 5-position pyrimidine modifications (e.g.,
5-(N-benzylcarboxyamide)-2'-deoxyuridine,
5-(N-isobutylcarboxyamide)-2'-deoxyuridine,
5-(N-tryptaminocarboxyamide)-2'-deoxyuridine,
5-(N-[1-(3-trimethylammonium) propyl]carboxyamide)-2'-deoxyuridine
chloride, 5-(N-napthylmethylcarboxyamide)-2'-deoxyuridine,
5-(imidazolylethyl)-2'-deoxyuridine, and
5-(N-[1-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)]carboxyamide)-2'-deoxyuridine),
8-position purine modifications, modifications at exocyclic amines,
substitution of 4-thiouridine, substitution of 5-bromo- or
5-iodo-uracil, backbone modifications, methylations, unusual
base-pairing combinations such as the isobases isocytidine and
isoguanidine, and the like.
[0106] In one embodiment, the term "C-5 modified pyrimidine" refers
to a pyrimidine with a modification at the C-5 position including,
but not limited to those moieties illustrated in FIG. 16. Examples
of a C-5 modified pyrimidine include those described in U.S. Pat.
Nos. 5,719,273 and 5,945,527. Examples of a C-5 modification
include substitution of deoxyuridine at the C-5 position with a
substituent selected from: benzylcarboxyamide (alternatively
benzylaminocarbonyl) (Bn), naphthylmethylcarboxyamide
(alternatively naphthylmethylaminocarbonyl) (Nap),
tryptaminocarboxyamide (alternatively tryptaminocarbonyl) (Trp),
and isobutylcarboxyamide (alternatively isobutylaminocarbonyl)
(iBu) as illustrated immediately below.
##STR00001##
As delineated above, representative C-5 modified pyrimidines
include: 5-(N-benzylcarboxyamide)-2'-deoxyuridine (BndU),
5-(N-isobutylcarboxyamide)-2'-deoxyuridine (iBudU),
5-(N-tryptaminocarboxyamide)-2'-deoxyuridine (TrpdU) and
5-(N-napthylmethylcarboxyamide)-2'-deoxyuridine (NapdU).
[0107] Modifications can also include 3' and 5' modifications, such
as capping. Other modifications can include substitution of one or
more of the naturally occurring nucleotides with an analog,
internucleotide modifications such as, for example, those with
uncharged linkages (e.g., methyl phosphonates, phosphotriesters,
phosphoamidates, carbamates, etc.) and those with charged linkages
(e.g., phosphorothioates, phosphorodithioates, etc.), those with
intercalators (e.g., acridine, psoralen, etc.), those containing
chelators (e.g., metals, radioactive metals, boron, oxidative
metals, etc.), those containing alkylators, and those with modified
linkages (e.g., alpha anomeric nucleic acids, etc.). Further, any
of the hydroxyl groups ordinarily present in a sugar may be
replaced by a phosphonate group or a phosphate group; protected by
any suitable protecting groups; or activated to prepare additional
linkages to additional nucleotides or to a solid support. The 5'
and 3' terminal OH groups can be phosphorylated or substituted with
amines, organic capping group moieties of from about 1 to about 20
carbon atoms, or organic capping group moieties of from about 1 to
about 20 polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymers or other hydrophilic or
hydrophobic biological or synthetic polymers. If present, a
modification to the nucleotide structure may be imparted before or
after assembly of a polymer. A sequence of nucleotides may be
interrupted by non-nucleotide components. A polynucleotide may be
further modified after polymerization, such as by conjugation with
a labeling component.
[0108] Polynucleotides can also contain analogous forms of ribose
or deoxyribose sugars that are generally known in the art,
including 2'-O-methyl-, 2'-O-allyl, 2'-fluoro- or 2'-azido-ribose,
carbocyclic sugar analogs, .alpha.-anomeric sugars, epimeric sugars
such as arabinose, xyloses or lyxoses, pyranose sugars, furanose
sugars, sedoheptuloses, acyclic analogs and abasic nucleoside
analogs such as methyl riboside. As noted above, one or more
phosphodiester linkages may be replaced by alternative linking
groups. These alternative linking groups include embodiments
wherein phosphate is replaced by P(O)S ("thioate"), P(S)S
("dithioate"), (O)NR.sub.2 ("amidate"), P(O)R, P(O)OR', CO or
CH.sub.2 ("formacetal"), in which each R or R' is independently H
or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl (1-20 C) optionally
containing an ether (--O--) linkage, aryl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl,
cycloalkenyl or araldyl. Not all linkages in a polynucleotide need
be identical. Substitution of analogous forms of sugars, purines,
and pyrimidines can be advantageous in designing a final product,
as can alternative backbone structures like a polyamide backbone,
for example.
[0109] In one embodiment, aptamer constructs can include one or
more C5-modified nucleotides in the variable region of the aptamer
that effectively slows the rate of dissociation of the aptamer from
its target. The base modifications of the nucleotides used in the
production of the variable region of the aptamer have been shown to
produce aptamers that have very slow off-rates from their
respective targets. For example, there is evidence that an aptamer
containing 5 position modified pyrimidines, such as any of those
illustrated in FIG. 16, has slow dissociation rate from its target.
In some embodiments, the use of an aptamer that includes
nucleotides that have been modified in this manner in an assay
method that includes a kinetic challenge yields enhanced
sensitivity and specificity in the detection of a target. As
indicated in FIG. 4, aptamers for over 500 targets have been
produced to date. Many of these aptamers have slow-off rate
characteristics.
[0110] In one embodiment, the variable region of the aptamer
includes nucleotides that have modified bases. These aptamers may
be used in any of the methods, devices, and kits described herein.
There is evidence that these modified nucleotides may lead to the
identification of aptamers that have very slow off-rates from their
respective target while maintaining high affinity to the target. In
one embodiment, the C-5 position of the pyrimidine bases may be
modified. In other embodiments, some or all of the pyrimidines in
the aptamer may be the base modified nucleotides. In yet other
embodiments, combinations of modified pyrimidines may be used.
Aptamers containing nucleotides with modified bases have a number
of properties that are different than aptamers containing only
unmodified nucleotides (i.e., naturally occurring nucleotides). In
one embodiment, the method for modification of the nucleotides is
through a carboxyamide linkage. However other methods for
modification may be suitable. It has been surprisingly observed
that the structure of the identified slow off-rate aptamers do not
appear to conform to the structures predicted by the base pairing
models. This is supported by the fact that the measured melting
temperatures of the aptamers are not what the models may predict.
As shown herein, there appears to be little or no correlation
between the measured and predicted melting temperatures.
Furthermore, on average, the calculated Tm is 6.degree. C. lower
than the measured Tm. The measured melting temperatures indicate
that aptamers that include these modified nucleotides are more
stable than may be predicted and potentially possess novel
secondary structures. Identification of slow off-rate aptamers are
more likely when modified nucleotides are used in the production of
the initial library or candidate mixture.
[0111] As used herein, "modified nucleic acid" refers to a nucleic
acid sequence containing one or more modified nucleotides that are
compatible with the SELEX process.
[0112] In another embodiment of the present disclosure a
non-covalent complex of an aptamer and a target is provided,
wherein the aptamer has a K.sub.d for the target of about 100 nM or
less, wherein the rate of dissociation (t.sub.1/2) of the aptamer
from the target is greater than or equal to about 30 minutes; is
between about 30 minutes and about 240 minutes; is .gtoreq.about 30
minutes, .gtoreq.about 60 minutes, .gtoreq.about 90 minutes,
.gtoreq.about 120 minutes, .gtoreq.about 150 minutes, .gtoreq.about
180 minutes, .gtoreq.about 210 minutes, .gtoreq.about 240 minutes;
and/or wherein one, several or all pyrimidines in the nucleic acid
sequence of the aptamer are modified at the 5-position of the base.
The modifications may be selected from the group of compounds shown
in FIG. 16. Aptamers may be designed with any combination of the
base modified nucleotides desired.
[0113] As used herein, "aptamer" and "nucleic acid ligand" are used
interchangeably to refer to a nucleic acid that has a specific
binding affinity for a target molecule. It is recognized that
affinity interactions are a matter of degree; however, in this
context, the "specific binding affinity" of an aptamer for its
target means that the aptamer binds to its target generally with a
much higher degree of affinity than it binds to other components in
a test sample. An "aptamer" is a set of copies of one type or
species of nucleic acid molecule that has a particular nucleotide
sequence. An aptamer can include any suitable number of
nucleotides. "Aptamers" refer to more than one such set of
molecules. Different aptamers may have either the same or different
numbers of nucleotides. Any of the methods disclosed herein may
include the use of one or more aptamers. Any of the methods
disclosed herein may also include the use of two or more aptamers
that specifically bind the same target molecule. As further
described below, an aptamer may include a tag. If an aptamer
includes a tag, all copies of the aptamer need not have the same
tag. Moreover, if different aptamers each include a tag, these
different aptamers may have either the same tag or a different tag.
Aptamers may be ssDNA, dsDNA, RNA or a combination of DNA and
RNA.
[0114] An aptamer can be identified using any known method,
including the SELEX process. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,096
entitled "Nucleic Acid Ligands". Once identified, an aptamer can be
prepared or synthesized in accordance with any known method,
including chemical synthetic methods and enzymatic synthetic
methods.
[0115] The terms "SELEX" and "SELEX process" are used
interchangeably herein to refer generally to a combination of (1)
the selection of nucleic acids that interact with a target molecule
in a desirable manner, for example binding with high affinity to a
protein, with (2) the amplification of those selected nucleic
acids. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,096 entitled "Nucleic Acid
Ligands". The SELEX process may be used to generate an aptamer that
covalently binds its target as well as an aptamer that
non-covalently binds its target. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,337
entitled "Systematic Evolution of Nucleic Acid Ligands by
Exponential Enrichment Chemi-SELEX". The SELEX process may also be
used to generate aptamers with improved off-rates as described in
U.S. application Ser. No. 12/175,434 entitled "Method for
Generating Aptamers with Improved Off-Rates", which is being filed
concurrently with the instant application and which is incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety.
[0116] As used herein, the term "aptamer affinity complex" or
"aptamer complex" refers to a non-covalent complex that is formed
by the interaction of an aptamer with its target molecule. An
"aptamer affinity complex" or "aptamer complex" is a set of copies
of one type or species of complex formed by an aptamer bound to its
corresponding target molecule. "Aptamer affinity complexes" or
"aptamer complexes" refer to more than one such set of complexes.
An aptamer affinity complex or aptamer complex can generally be
reversed or dissociated by a change in an environmental condition,
e.g., an increase in temperature, an increase in salt
concentration, or an addition of a denaturant.
[0117] As used herein, "non-specific complex" refers to a
non-covalent association between two or more molecules other than
an aptamer and its target molecule. Because a non-specific complex
is not selected on the basis of an affinity interaction between its
constituent molecules, but represents an interaction between
classes of molecules, molecules associated in a non-specific
complex will exhibit, on average, much lower affinities for each
other and will have a correspondingly higher dissociation rate than
an aptamer and its target molecule. Non-specific complexes include
complexes formed between an aptamer and a non-target molecule, a
competitor and a non-target molecule, a competitor and a target
molecule, and a target molecule and a non-target molecule.
[0118] The SELEX process generally begins with the preparation of a
candidate mixture of nucleic acids of differing sequence. The
candidate mixture generally includes nucleic acid sequences that
include two fixed regions (i.e., each of the members of the
candidate mixture contains the same sequences in the same location)
and a variable region. Typically, the fixed sequence regions are
selected such that they assist in the amplification steps described
below, or enhance the potential of a given structural arrangement
of the nucleic acids in the candidate mixture. The variable region
typically provides the target binding region of each nucleic acid
in the candidate mixture, and this variable region can be
completely randomized (i.e., the probability of finding a base at
any position being one in four) or only partially randomized (e.g.,
the probability of finding a base at any location can be selected
at any level between 0 and 100 percent). The prepared candidate
mixture is contacted with the selected target under conditions that
are favorable for binding to occur between the target and members
of the candidate mixture. Under these conditions, the interaction
between the target and the nucleic acids of the candidate mixture
generally forms nucleic acid-target pairs that have the strongest
relative affinity between members of the pair. The nucleic acids
with the highest affinity for the target are partitioned from those
nucleic acids with lesser affinity to the target. The partitioning
process is conducted in a manner that retains the maximum number of
high affinity candidates. Those nucleic acids selected during
partitioning as having a relatively high affinity to the target are
amplified to create a new candidate mixture that is enriched in
nucleic acids having a relatively high affinity for the target. By
repeating the partitioning and amplifying steps above, the newly
formed candidate mixture contains fewer and fewer unique sequences,
and the average degree of affinity of the nucleic acid mixture to
the target will generally increase. Taken to its extreme, the SELEX
process will yield a candidate mixture containing one or a very
small number of unique nucleic acids representing those nucleic
acids from the original candidate mixture that have the highest
affinity to the target molecule.
[0119] As used herein, "photoaptamer," "photoreactive nucleic acid
ligand," and "photoreactive aptamer" are used interchangeably to
refer to an aptamer that contains one or more photoreactive
functional groups that can covalently bind to or "crosslink" with a
target molecule. For example, a naturally occurring nucleic acid
residue may be modified to include a chemical functional group that
confers photoreactivity upon the nucleic acid residue upon exposure
to a radiation source of an appropriate wavelength. A photoaptamer
can be identified and/or prepared using any known method. In some
embodiments, a photoreactive aptamer is identified using the
photoSELEX process. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,177, U.S. Pat.
No. 6,001,577, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,291,184, each of which is
entitled "Systematic Evolution of Nucleic Acid Ligands by
Exponential Enrichment: Photoselection of Nucleic Acid Ligands and
Solution SELEX"; see also, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,539, entitled
"Photoselection of Nucleic Acid Ligands" and U.S. application Ser.
No. 12/175,388, entitled "Improved SELEX and PHOTOSELEX", which is
being filed concurrently with the instant application and which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0120] Exemplary photoreactive functional groups that may be
incorporated into a photoaptamer include 5-bromouracil,
5-iodouracil, 5-bromovinyluracil, 5-iodovinyluracil, 5-azidouracil,
4-thiouracil, 5-thiouracil, 4-thiocytosine, 5-bromocytosine,
5-iodocytosine, 5-bromovinylcytosine, 5-iodovinylcytosine,
5-azidocytosine, 8-azidoadenine, 8-bromoadenine, 8-iodoadenine,
8-aziodoguanine, 8-bromoguanine, 8-iodoguanine,
8-azidohypoxanthine, 8-bromohypoxanthine, 8-iodohypoxanthine,
8-azidoxanthine, 8-bromoxanthine, 8-iodoxanthine,
5-[(4-azidophenacyl)thio]cytosine, 5-[(4-azidophenacyl)thio]uracil,
7-deaza-7-iodoadenine, 7-deaza-7-iodoguanine,
7-deaza-7-bromoadenine, and 7-deaza-7-bromoguanine.
[0121] In addition to these exemplary nucleoside-based
photoreactive functional groups, other photoreactive functional
groups that can be added to a terminal end of an aptamer through an
appropriate linker molecule can be used. Such photoreactive
functional groups include benzophenone, anthraquinone,
4-azido-2-nitro-aniline, psoralen, derivatives of any of these, and
the like.
[0122] A photoreactive functional group incorporated into a
photoaptamer may be activated by any suitable method. In one
embodiment, a photoaptamer containing a photoreactive functional
group is crosslinked to its target by exposing the photoaptamer
affinity complex to a source of electromagnetic radiation. Suitable
types of electromagnetic radiation include ultraviolet light,
visible light, X-rays, and gamma rays. Suitable radiation sources
include sources that utilize either monochromatic light or filtered
polychromatic light.
[0123] As used herein, the term "aptamer covalent complex" refers
to an aptamer affinity complex in which the aptamer has been
induced to form or otherwise forms a covalent bond with its target
molecule. An "aptamer covalent complex" is a set of copies of one
type or species of complex formed by an aptamer covalently bound to
its corresponding target molecule. "Aptamer covalent complexes"
refer to more than one such set of complexes. A covalent bond or
linkage between an aptamer and its target molecule can be induced
by photoactivation of a chemical moiety on the aptamer, including
those moieties described above with respect to photoaptamers. A
covalent bond or linkage between an aptamer and its target molecule
can also be induced chemically. Chemical groups that can be
included in an aptamer and used to induce a covalent linkage with
the target include but are not limited to aldehydes, maleimides,
acrylyl derivatives, diazonium derivatives, thiols, etc. In some
embodiments, chemical crosslinking groups, such as maleimide or
diazonium salts, for example, can convert aptamer affinity
complexes to aptamer covalent complexes simply by providing the
proper environment and juxtaposition of reactive groups required
for specific and sufficiently enhanced chemical reactivity to
occur. In other embodiments, chemical crosslinkers, such as
aldehyde groups, may require the addition of another component, for
example, sodium cyanoborohydride, to convert aptamer affinity
complexes to stable, irreversible aptamer covalent complexes. In
yet other embodiments, no such chemical crosslinkers are included
in an aptamer; rather, a third reagent is used to convert an
aptamer affinity complex to an aptamer covalent complex by
facilitating a covalent attachment between the aptamer and its
target. For example, a homo- or hetero-bifunctional reagent
containing both an amine reactive moiety (e.g., an N-hydroxy
succinimidyl ester, an aldehyde, or an imidate) and a
nucleoside-reactive group (e.g., an iodoacetamide or an activated
aldehyde) can induce covalent complexation of an aptamer affinity
complex, such as an affinity complex formed by an aptamer and a
target protein.
[0124] Photoaptamers can be identified by first identifying an
affinity aptamer and substituting in one or more photoreactive
nucleotide residues. Alternatively, photoaptamers can be identified
by a SELEX process comprising the following: (a) preparing a
candidate mixture of nucleic acids, wherein each nucleic acid
comprises (i) at least one non-photoreactive placeholding
pyrimidine and (ii) at least one modified pyrimidine; (b)
contacting the candidate mixture with a target, wherein nucleic
acids having an increased affinity to the target relative to the
candidate mixture may be partitioned from the remainder of the
candidate mixture; (c) partitioning the increased affinity nucleic
acids from the remainder of the candidate mixture; (d) amplifying
the increased affinity nucleic acids to yield a nucleic acid
ligand-enriched mixture of nucleic acids, whereby an aptamer to the
target compound may be identified; (e) repeating (b)-(d) as
desired; (f) producing a candidate photoaptamer by replacing in
each nucleic acid of the nucleic acid ligand-enriched mixture of
(d) one or more non-photoreactive placeholding pyrimidines with a
photoreactive pyrimidine; (g) contacting the candidate photoaptamer
with the target wherein a candidate photoaptamer-target complex is
formed; (h) irradiating said candidate photoaptamer-target complex;
(i) determining whether said candidate photoaptamer-target complex
has photocrosslinked; (j) repeating (f)-(i) as desired; and (k)
identifying at least one photoaptamer to the target.
[0125] The term "test sample" refers herein to any material,
solution, or mixture that contains a plurality of molecules and may
include at least one target molecule. The term test sample includes
biological samples, as defined below, and samples that may be used
for environmental or toxicology testing, such as contaminated or
potentially contaminated water and industrial effluents, for
example. A test sample may also be an end product, intermediate
product, or by-product of a preparatory process, for example a
manufacturing process. A test sample may include any suitable assay
medium, buffer, or diluent that has been added to a material,
solution, or mixture obtained from an organism or from some other
source (e.g., the environment or an industrial source).
[0126] The term "biological sample" refers to any material,
solution, or mixture obtained from an organism. This includes blood
(including whole blood, leukocytes, peripheral blood mononuclear
cells, plasma, and serum), sputum, breath, urine, semen, saliva,
meningeal fluid, amniotic fluid, glandular fluid, lymph fluid,
nipple aspirate, bronchial aspirate, synovial fluid, joint
aspirate, cells, a cellular extract, and cerebrospinal fluid. This
also includes experimentally separated fractions of all of the
preceding. The term "biological sample" also includes materials,
solutions, or mixtures containing homogenized solid material, such
as from a stool sample, a tissue sample, or a tissue biopsy, for
example. The term "biological sample" also includes materials,
solutions, or mixtures derived from a tissue culture, cell culture,
bacterial culture, or viral culture.
[0127] As used herein, "target molecule" and "target" are used
interchangeably to refer to any molecule of interest to which an
aptamer can bind with high affinity and specificity and that may be
present in a test sample. A "molecule of interest" includes any
minor variation of a particular molecule, such as, in the case of a
protein, for example, minor variations in amino acid sequence,
disulfide bond formation, glycosylation, lipidation, acetylation,
phosphorylation, or any other manipulation or modification, such as
conjugation with a labeling component that does not substantially
alter the identity of the molecule. A "target molecule" or "target"
is a set of copies of one type or species of molecule or
multimolecular structure that is capable of binding to an aptamer.
"Target molecules" or "targets" refer to more than one such set of
molecules. Exemplary target molecules include proteins,
polypeptides, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids,
polysaccharides, glycoproteins, hormones, receptors, antigens,
antibodies, affybodies, antibody mimics, viruses, pathogens, toxic
substances, substrates, metabolites, transition state analogs,
cofactors, inhibitors, drugs, dyes, nutrients, growth factors,
cells, tissues, and any fragment or portion of any of the
foregoing. An aptamer may be identified for virtually any chemical
or biological molecule of any size, and thus virtually any chemical
or biological molecule of any size can be a suitable target. A
target can also be modified to enhance the likelihood or strength
of an interaction between the target and the aptamer. A target can
also be modified to include a tag, as defined above. In exemplary
embodiments, the target molecule is a protein. See U.S. Pat. No.
6,376,190 entitled "Modified SELEX Processes Without Purified
Protein" for methods in which the SELEX target is a peptide.
[0128] "Polypeptide," "peptide," and "protein" are used
interchangeably herein to refer to polymers of amino acids of any
length. The polymer may be linear or branched, it may comprise
modified amino acids, and it may be interrupted by non-amino acids.
The terms also encompass an amino acid polymer that has been
modified naturally or by intervention; for example, disulfide bond
formation, glycosylation, lipidation, acetylation, phosphorylation,
or any other manipulation or modification, such as conjugation with
a labeling component. Also included within the definition are, for
example, polypeptides containing one or more analogs of an amino
acid (including, for example, unnatural amino acids, etc.), as well
as other modifications known in the art. Polypeptides can be single
chains or associated chains.
[0129] As used herein, "non-target molecule" and "non-target" are
used interchangeably to refer to a molecule contained in a test
sample that can form a non-specific complex with an aptamer. A
"non-target molecule" or "non-target" is a set of copies of one
type or species of molecule or multi-molecular structure that is
capable of binding to an aptamer. "Non-target molecules" or
"non-targets" refer to more than one such set of molecules. It will
be appreciated that a molecule that is a non-target for a first
aptamer may be a target for a second aptamer. Likewise, a molecule
that is a target for the first aptamer may be a non-target for the
second aptamer.
[0130] As used herein, the term "partition" refers to a separation
or removal of one or more molecular species from the test sample.
Partitioning can be used to increase sensitivity and/or reduce
background. Partitioning is most effective following aptamer
complex formation or when the aptamer affinity complex becomes
irreversible due to the covalent bond introduced during
crosslinking. A partitioning step may be introduced after any step,
or after every step, where the aptamer affinity complex is
immobilized. Partitioning may also rely on a size differential or
other specific property that differentially exists between the
aptamer affinity complex and other components of the test sample.
Partitioning may also be achieved through a specific interaction
with an aptamer or target. Partitioning maybe also be accomplished
based on the physical or biochemical properties of the aptamer,
target, aptamer affinity complex or aptamer covalent complex
[0131] As used herein "Catch 1" refers to the partitioning of an
aptamer affinity complex or aptamer covalent complex based on the
capture of the aptamer. The purpose of Catch 1 is to remove
substantially all of the components in the test sample that are not
associated with the aptamer. Removing the majority of such
components will generally improve target tagging efficiency by
removing non-target molecules from the target tagging step used for
Catch 2 capture and may lead to lower assay background. In one
embodiment, a tag is attached to the aptamer either before the
assay, during preparation of the assay, or during the assay by
appending the tag to the aptamer. In one embodiment, the tag is a
releasable tag. In one embodiment, the releasable tag comprises a
cleavable linker and a tag. As described above, tagged aptamer can
be captured on a solid support where the solid support comprises a
capture element appropriate for the tag. The solid support can then
be washed to remove any materials in the test mixture that are not
associated with the aptamer.
[0132] In various embodiments, aptamer affinity (or covalent)
complexes are captured or immobilized on the solid support using
the capture tag incorporated into the aptamer (aptamer tag). For
example, if the capture tag on the aptamer is biotin, as described
above, beads having avidin, streptavidin, neutravidin, Extravidin,
and like on the surface can be used to capture the aptamer affinity
(or covalent) complexes. The beads are washed to remove any free
(uncomplexed) target and other sample matrix components.
[0133] In another embodiment, the tag is a hybridization tag
complementary to a probe immobilized on the first solid support.
The solid support in this case may include microbeads (for example,
paramagnetic beads), any other suitable solid supports described
herein, and the like. The hybridization tag may be a unique
sequence tag added to the aptamer or it may be a portion of the
aptamer sequence or it may be the entire aptamer sequence. After
the aptamer is associated with the solid support through
hybridization, the test sample can be washed to remove any
materials that are not associated with the aptamer. In one
embodiment, the aptamer covalent complexes and free aptamer can be
released from the solid support using any suitable method to
reverse hybridization, such as high salt, low or high pH, high
temperature or a combination of any of these. Release of a
hybridization tag in Catch 1 is generally not compatible with
preserving aptamer affinity complexes, since the conditions that
lead to disruption of tag-probe hybridization will generally lead
to denaturation of the aptamer's structure, resulting in the
dissociation of the aptamer affinity complex.
[0134] In another embodiment, the removal of components not
associated with the aptamer can be accomplished using physical
techniques rather than an explicit aptamer tag and a first solid
support. In one embodiment, this is accomplished by precipitating
the aptamer, both free and complexed, from the test sample, leaving
other molecules that can react with the target tagging agent in the
supernatant to be discarded. Note that this method is designed for
use with the photocrosslinking assays. Such nucleic acid
precipitation can be accomplished with reagents that include
cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), dodecyltrimethylammonium
bromide (DTAB), and organic solvents such as ethanol, for
example.
[0135] As used herein "Catch 2" refers to the partitioning of an
aptamer affinity complex or aptamer covalent complex based on the
capture of the target molecule. The purpose of the Catch 2 step is
to remove free, or uncomplexed, aptamer from the test sample prior
to detection and optional quantification. Removing free aptamer
from the sample allows for the detection of the aptamer affinity or
aptamer covalent complexes by any suitable nucleic acid detection
technique. When using Q-PCR for detection and optional
quantification, the removal of free aptamer is needed for accurate
detection and quantification of the target molecule.
[0136] In one embodiment, the target molecule is a protein or
peptide and free aptamer is partitioned from the aptamer affinity
(or covalent) complex (and the rest of the test sample) using
reagents that can be incorporated into proteins (and peptides) and
complexes that include proteins (or peptides), such as, for
example, an aptamer affinity (or covalent) complex. The tagged
protein (or peptide) and aptamer affinity (or covalent) complex can
be immobilized on a solid support, enabling partitioning of the
protein (or peptide) and the aptamer affinity (or covalent) complex
from free aptamer. Such tagging can include, for example, a biotin
moiety that can be incorporated into the protein or peptide.
[0137] In one embodiment, a Catch 2 tag is attached to the protein
(or peptide) either before the assay, during preparation of the
assay, or during the assay by chemically attaching the tag to the
targets. In one embodiment the Catch 2 tag is a releasable tag. In
one embodiment, the releasable tag comprises a cleavable linker and
a tag. It is generally not necessary, however, to release the
protein (or peptide) from the Catch 2 solid support. As described
above, tagged targets can be captured on a second solid support
where the solid support comprises a capture element appropriate for
the target tag. The solid support can then be washed to remove free
aptamer from the solution.
[0138] In one embodiment, the target tag introduced for Catch 2 is
the same tag as that on the aptamer used for Catch 1. In this
embodiment, the target tagging is performed after the Catch 1 step
and prior to introduction of the Catch 2 solid support. In one
embodiment, sites not occupied with aptamers on the Catch 1 support
can be blocked prior to tagging targets if target tagging is done
while on the Catch 1 support.
[0139] In another embodiment, the aptamer affinity complex or the
aptamer covalent complex can be captured on the second solid
support directly through association with a capture reagent on the
second solid support. No explicit target tagging is necessary in
this embodiment. In one embodiment, the second solid support
contains an antibody that binds the target molecule. In another
embodiment, the support contains an Fc fragment that binds the
target molecule. In another embodiment, when the target molecule is
IgG, IgM, IgA or IgE, the support may contain Protein A to bind the
target protein. Any capture reagent that binds to the target
molecule in an aptamer affinity or aptamer covalent complex can be
used for the Catch 2 step.
[0140] In another embodiment, the removal of free aptamer can be
accomplished using physical techniques rather than an explicit
target tag and a second solid support. In one embodiment where the
target molecule is a protein or peptide, this is accomplished by
precipitating the aptamer covalent complexes and leaving free
aptamer in the supernatant to be discarded [note that this works
only for covalent complexes]. Such protein or peptide precipitation
can be accomplished with SDS and high salt, usually K.sup.+, for
example. After SDS-K.sup.+ precipitation, the aptamer covalent
complex can be recovered for quantification.
[0141] After removal of free aptamer by washing the second solid
support, the aptamer affinity complexes are then subject to a
dissociation step in which the complexes are disrupted to yield
free aptamer while the target molecules generally remain bound to
the solid support through the binding interaction of the probe and
target capture tag. The aptamer from the aptamer affinity complex
can be released by any method that disrupts the structure of either
the aptamer or the target. This may be achieved though washing of
the support bound aptamer affinity complexes in high salt buffer
which dissociates the non-covalently bound aptamer-target
complexes. Eluted free aptamers are collected and detected. In
another embodiment, high or low pH is used to disrupt the aptamer
affinity complexes. In another embodiment high temperature is used
to dissociate aptamer affinity complexes. In another embodiment, a
combination of any of the above methods may be used.
[0142] In the case of aptamer covalent complexes, release of the
aptamer for subsequent quantification is accomplished using a
cleavable linker in the aptamer construct. In another embodiment, a
cleavable linker in the target tag will result in the release of
the aptamer covalent complex.
[0143] As used herein, "competitor molecule" and "competitor" are
used interchangeably to refer to any molecule that can form a
non-specific complex with a non-target molecule, for example to
prevent that non-target molecule form rebinding non-specifically to
an aptamer. A "competitor molecule" or "competitor" is a set of
copies of one type or species of molecule. "Competitor molecules"
or "competitors" refer to more than one such set of molecules.
Competitor molecules include oligonucleotides, polyanions (e.g.,
heparin, herring sperm DNA, single-stranded salmon sperm DNA, and
polydextrans (e.g., dextran sulfate)), abasic phosphodiester
polymers, dNTPs, and pyrophosphate. In the case of a kinetic
challenge that uses a competitor, the competitor can also be any
molecule that can form a non-specific complex with a free aptamer,
for example to prevent that aptamer from rebinding non-specifically
to a non-target molecule. Such competitor molecules include
polycations (e.g., spermine, spermidine, polylysine, and
polyarginine) and amino acids (e.g., arginine and lysine). When a
competitor is used as the kinetic challenge a fairly high
concentration is utilized relative to the anticipated concentration
of total protein or total aptamer present in the sample. In one
embodiment, about 10 mM dextran sulfates is used as the competitor
in a kinetic challenge. In one embodiment, the kinetic challenge
comprises adding a competitor to the mixture containing the aptamer
affinity complex, and incubating the mixture containing the aptamer
affinity complex for a time of greater than or equal to about 30
seconds, about 1 minute, about 2 minutes, about 3 minutes, about 4
minutes, about 5 minutes, about 10 minutes, about 30 minutes, and
about 60 minutes. In another embodiment, the kinetic challenge
comprises adding a competitor to the mixture containing the aptamer
affinity complex and incubating the mixture containing the aptamer
affinity complex for a time such that the ratio of the measured
level of aptamer affinity complex to the measured level of the
non-specific complex is increased.
[0144] In some embodiments, the kinetic challenge is performed by
diluting the test sample with binding buffer or any other solution
that does not significantly increase the natural rate of
dissociation of aptamer affinity complexes. The dilution can be
about 2.times., about 3.times., about 4.times., about 5.times., or
any suitable greater dilution. Larger dilutions provide a more
effective kinetic challenge by reducing the concentration of total
protein and aptamer after dilution and, therefore, the rate of
their re-association. If dilution is used to introduce a kinetic
challenge, the subsequent test sample mixture containing the
aptamer affinity complex may be concentrated before further
processing. If applicable, this concentration can be accomplished
using methods described herein with respect to the optional
partitioning of any free aptamers from the test sample and/or the
optional removal of other components of the test sample that can
react with the tagging agent. When dilution is used as the kinetic
challenge, the amount of dilution is selected to be as high as
practical, in view of both the initial test sample volume and the
desirability of recovering the aptamer affinity complex from the
final (diluted) volume without incurring a significant loss of the
complex. In one embodiment, the aptamer affinity complex is diluted
and the mixture is incubated for a time .gtoreq.about 30 seconds,
.gtoreq.about 1 minute, .gtoreq.about 2 minutes, .gtoreq.about 3
minutes, .gtoreq.about 4 minutes, .gtoreq.about 5 minutes,
.gtoreq.about 10 minutes, .gtoreq.about 30 minutes, and about 60
minutes. In another embodiment, the aptamer affinity complex is
diluted and the mixtures containing the aptamer affinity complex
are incubated for a time such that the ratio of the measured level
of aptamer affinity complex to the measured level of the
non-specific complex is increased.
[0145] In some embodiments, the kinetic challenge is performed in
such a manner that the effect of sample dilution and the effect of
introducing a competitor are realized simultaneously. For example,
a test sample can be diluted with a large volume of competitor.
Combining these two kinetic challenge strategies may provide a more
effective kinetic challenge than can be achieved using one
strategy. In one embodiment, the dilution can be about 2.times.,
about 3.times., about 4.times., about 5.times., or any suitable
greater dilution and the competitor is about 10 mM dextran sulfate.
In one embodiment, the kinetic challenge comprises diluting the
mixture containing the aptamer affinity complex, adding a
competitor to the mixture containing the aptamer affinity complex,
and incubating the mixture containing the aptamer affinity complex
for a time greater than or equal to about 30 seconds, about 1
minute, about 2 minutes, about 3 minutes, about 4 minutes, about 5
minutes, about 10 minutes, about 30 minutes, and about 60 minutes.
In another embodiment, the kinetic challenge comprises diluting the
mixture containing the aptamer affinity complex, adding a
competitor to the mixture containing the aptamer affinity complex
and incubating the mixture containing the aptamer affinity complex
for a time such that the ratio of the measured level of aptamer
affinity complex to the measured level of the non-specific complex
is increased.
[0146] In various embodiments, aptamer affinity (or covalent)
complexes are captured or immobilized on the solid support using a
tag incorporated into the aptamer (aptamer tag), or attached to the
target. For example, if the tag on the aptamer is biotin, beads
having a capture element such as avidin, streptavidin, neutravidin,
Extravidin, and like on the surface can be used to capture the
aptamer affinity (or covalent) complexes. The beads are washed to
remove any free (uncomplexed) target.
[0147] As disclosed herein, an aptamer can further comprise a
"tag," which refers to a component that provides a means for
attaching or immobilizing an aptamer (and any target molecule that
is bound to it) to a solid support. A "tag" is a set of copies of
one type or species of component that is capable of associating
with a "capture element". "Tags" or "capture elements" refers to
more than one such set of components. The tag can be attached to or
included in the aptamer by any suitable method. Generally, the tag
allows the aptamer to associate, either directly or indirectly,
with a capture element or receptor that is attached to the solid
support. The capture element is typically chosen (or designed) to
be highly specific in its interaction with the tag and to retain
that association during subsequent processing steps or procedures.
A tag can enable the localization of an aptamer affinity complex
(or covalent aptamer affinity complex) to a spatially defined
address on a solid support. Different tags, therefore, can enable
the localization of different aptamer covalent complexes to
different spatially defined addresses on a solid support. A tag can
be a polynucleotide, a polypeptide, a peptide nucleic acid, a
locked nucleic acid, an oligosaccharide, a polysaccharide, an
antibody, an affybody, an antibody mimic, a cell receptor, a
ligand, a lipid, biotin, polyhistidine, or any fragment or
derivative of these structures, any combination of the foregoing,
or any other structure with which a capture element (or linker
molecule, as described below) can be designed or configured to bind
or otherwise associate with specificity. Generally, a tag is
configured such that it does not interact intramolecularly with
either itself or the aptamer to which it is attached or of which it
is a part. If SELEX is used to identify an aptamer, the tag may be
added to the aptamer either pre- or post-SELEX. In one embodiment,
the tag is included on the 5'-end of the aptamer post-SELEX. In
another embodiment, the tag is included on the 3'-end of the
aptamer post-SELEX. In yet another embodiment, tags may be included
on both the 3' and 5' ends of the aptamers in a post-SELEX
modification process. In another embodiment, the tag may be an
internal segment of the aptamer.
[0148] In one embodiment, the tag is a biotin group and the capture
element is a biotin binding protein such as avidin, streptavidin,
neutravidin, Extravidin. This combination is may be conveniently
used in various embodiments, as biotin is easily incorporated into
aptamers during synthesis and streptavidin beads are readily
available.
[0149] In one embodiment, the tag is polyhistidine and the capture
element is nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) chelated with a metal ion
such as nickel, cobalt, iron, or any other metal ion able to form a
coordination compound with poly-histidine when chelated with
NTA.
[0150] In one embodiment, the tag is a polynucleotide that is
designed to hybridize directly with a capture element that contains
a complementary polynucleotide sequence. In this case, the tag is
sometimes referred to as a "sequence tag" and the capture element
is generally referred to as a "probe". In this embodiment, the tag
is generally configured and the hybridization reaction is carried
out under conditions such that the tag does not hybridize with a
probe other than the probe for which the tag is a perfect
complement. This allows for the design of a multiplex assay format
as each tag/probe combination can have unique sequences.
[0151] In some embodiments, the tag comprises nucleotides that are
a part of the aptamer itself. For example, if SELEX is used to
identify an aptamer, the aptamer generally includes a 5'-fixed end
separated from a 3'-fixed end by a nucleotide sequence that varies,
depending upon the aptamer, that is, a variable region. In one
embodiment, the tag can comprise any suitable number of nucleotides
included in a fixed end of the aptamer, such as, for example, an
entire fixed end or any portion of a fixed end, including
nucleotides that are internal to a fixed end. In another
embodiment, the tag can comprise any suitable number of nucleotides
included within the variable region of the aptamer, such as, for
example, the entire variable region or any portion of the variable
region. In a further embodiment, the tag can comprise any suitable
number of nucleotides that overlap both the variable region and one
of the fixed ends, that is, the tag can comprise a nucleotide
sequence that includes any portion (including all) of the variable
region and any portion (including all) of a fixed end.
[0152] In another embodiment, a tag can associate directly with a
probe and covalently bind to the probe, thereby covalently linking
the aptamer to the surface of the solid support. In this
embodiment, the tag and the probe can include suitable reactive
groups that, upon association of the tag with the probe, are
sufficiently proximate to each other to undergo a chemical reaction
that produces a covalent bond. The reaction may occur spontaneously
or may require activation, such as, for example, photo-activation
or chemical activation. In one embodiment, the tag includes a diene
moiety and the probe includes a dienophile, and covalent bond
formation results from a spontaneous Diels-Alder conjugation
reaction of the diene and dienophile. Any appropriate complementary
chemistry can be used, such as, for example, N-Mannich reaction,
disulfide formation, Curtius reaction, Aldol condensation, Schiff
base formation, and Michael addition.
[0153] In another embodiment, the tag associates indirectly with a
probe, such as, for example, through a linker molecule, as further
described below. In this embodiment, the tag can include a
polynucleotide sequence that is complementary to a particular
region or component of a linker molecule. The tag is generally
configured and the hybridization reaction is carried out such that
the tag does not hybridize with a polynucleotide sequence other
than the polynucleotide sequence included in the linker
molecule.
[0154] If the tag includes a polynucleotide, the polynucleotide can
include any suitable number of nucleotides. In one embodiment, a
tag includes at least about 10 nucleotides. In another embodiment,
the tag includes from about 10 to about 45 nucleotides. In yet
another embodiment, the tag includes at least about 30 nucleotides.
Different tags that include a polynucleotide can include either the
same number of nucleotides or a different number of
nucleotides.
[0155] In some embodiments, the tag component is bi-functional in
that it includes functionality for specific interaction with a
capture element on a solid support or "probe" as defined below
(probe association component), and functionality for dissociating
the molecule to which it is attached from the probe association
component of the tag. The means for dissociating the probe
association component of the tag includes chemical means,
photochemical means or other means depending upon the particular
tag that is employed.
[0156] In some embodiments, the tag is attached to the aptamer. In
other embodiments, the tag is attached to the target molecule. The
tag may be attached to the target molecule prior to the aptamer
binding step, or may be attached to the target molecule or aptamer
affinity (or covalent) complex after binding equilibration (or
photo-crosslinking) has been achieved.
[0157] As used herein, "capture element", "probe" or "receptor"
refers to a molecule that is configured to associate, either
directly or indirectly, with a tag. A "capture element", "probe" or
"receptor" is a set of copies of one type of molecule or one type
of multi-molecular structure that is capable of immobilizing the
moiety to which the tag is attached to a solid support by
associating, either directly or indirectly, with the tag. "Capture
elements" "probes" or "receptors" refer to more than one such set
of molecules. A capture element, probe or receptor can be a
polynucleotide, a polypeptide, a peptide nucleic acid, a locked
nucleic acid, an oligosaccharide, a polysaccharide, an antibody, an
affybody, an antibody mimic, a cell receptor, a ligand, a lipid,
biotin, polyhistidine, or any fragment or derivative of these
structures, any combination of the foregoing, or any other
structure with which a tag (or linker molecule) can be designed or
configured to bind or otherwise associate with specificity. A
capture element, probe or receptor can be attached to a solid
support either covalently or non-covalently by any suitable
method.
[0158] While the terms "capture element", "probe" and "receptor"
are used interchangeably, probe generally refers to a
polynucleotide sequence. In one embodiment, the probe includes a
polynucleotide that has a sequence that is complementary to a
polynucleotide tag sequence. In this embodiment, the probe sequence
is generally configured and the hybridization reaction is carried
out under conditions such that the probe does not hybridize with a
nucleotide sequence other than the tag for which the probe includes
the complementary sequence (i.e., the probe is generally configured
and the hybridization reaction is carried out under conditions such
that the probe does not hybridize with a different tag or an
aptamer).
[0159] In another embodiment, the probe associates indirectly with
a tag, for example, through a linker molecule. In this embodiment,
the probe can include a polynucleotide sequence that is
complementary to a particular region or component of a linker
molecule. The probe is generally configured and the hybridization
reaction is carried out such that the probe does not hybridize with
a polynucleotide sequence other than the polynucleotide sequence
included in the linker molecule.
[0160] If a probe includes a polynucleotide, the polynucleotide can
include any suitable number of nucleotides. In one embodiment, a
probe includes at least about 10 nucleotides. In another
embodiment, a probe includes from about 10 to about 45 nucleotides.
In yet another embodiment, a probe includes at least about 30
nucleotides. Different probes that include a polynucleotide can
include either the same number of nucleotides or a different number
of nucleotides.
[0161] In some embodiments, the capture probe is bi-functional in
that it includes functionality for specific interaction with a
polynucleotide tag, and functionality for dissociating the probe
from the solid support such that the probe and aptamer are
simultaneously released. The means for dissociating the probe from
the solid support includes chemical means, photochemical means or
other means depending upon the particular capture probe that is
employed.
[0162] Due to the reciprocal nature of the interaction between a
particular tag and capture element pair, a tag in one embodiment
may be used as a capture element in another embodiment, and a
capture element in one embodiment may be used as a tag in another
embodiment. For example, an aptamer with a biotin tag may be
captured with streptavidin attached to a solid support in one
embodiment, while an aptamer with a streptavidin tag may be
captured with biotin attached to a solid support in another
embodiment.
[0163] In some embodiments, it is desirable to immobilize aptamer
affinity (or covalent) complexes to a solid support to enable the
isolation of aptamer affinity (or covalent) complexes and remove
free aptamer. In one embodiment, the tag is added to the target
molecule of the affinity (or covalent) complex using a reagent that
is highly reactive with the target molecule and weakly reactive (or
ideally non-reactive) with the aptamer. In this embodiment, the tag
is designed such that target tagging of aptamer affinity complexes
is accomplished with little or no dissociation of the affinity
complex, for example, at a pH and ionic strength that is compatible
with the affinity interaction and does not change the conformation
of the target or the aptamer, and a degree of tagging that does not
introduce a large plurality of tags on each target molecule such
that interaction with the aptamer is affected. Target tagging of
aptamer covalent complexes does not share these restrictions and
can be accomplished under any conditions suitable for efficient
tagging.
[0164] In some embodiments, it may be important to assure that the
tagging reagent tags most, if not all, proteins present in a test
sample but tends not to tag, or tags only minimally, nucleic acids
or other components of the assay, such as the solid support. Any
reactive chemical group found on proteins, but not found on nucleic
acids or the substrate surface, can serve as a site of covalent
attachment. Exemplary reactive chemical groups include primary
amines (e.g., on lysine residues), thiols (e.g., on cysteine, which
may be produced by the reduction of disulfide linkages), alcohols
(e.g., on serine, threonine, tyrosine, and sugar moieties on
glycoproteins (including the products of oxidation of cis-diols on
such sugars)), and carboxylates (e.g., on glutamic and aspartic
acid). In one embodiment, the tagging reagent comprises an
N-hydroxysuccinimide-activated tag, which reacts preferentially
with lysine residues on proteins and peptides.
[0165] The optimal conditions for tagging different aptamer
affinity (or covalent) complexes may be different, and are normally
determined empirically to optimize the sensitivity of the method.
In one embodiment, the concentration of the tagging agent is
usually sufficient to detect at least about 1% of the target
molecules. In another embodiment, the concentration of the labeling
agent is usually sufficient to detect at least about 10% of the
target molecules. In a further embodiment, the concentration of the
tagging agent is usually sufficient to detect at least about 90% of
the target molecules.
[0166] In one embodiment the target is a protein or peptide and the
tag is a biotin attached to the target using a standard reagent for
protein biotinylation, such as, for example, NHS-PEO4-biotin. Other
suitable reagents include Sulfo-NHS-LC-biotin, PFP-biotin,
TFP-PEO.sub.3-biotin, or any other suitable reagent that may be
used to attach a tag to a protein.
[0167] As used herein, a linker is a molecular structure that is
use to connect two functional groups or molecular structures. As
used herein, "spacing linker" or more simply a "spacer" refers to a
group of benign atoms that provide separation or spacing between
two different functional groups within an aptamer. As used herein,
a "releasable" or "cleavable" element, moiety, or linker refers to
a molecular structure that can be broken to produce two separate
components. A releasable (or cleavable) element may comprise a
single molecule in which a chemical bond can be broken (referred to
herein as an "inline cleavable linker"), or it may comprise two or
more molecules in which a non-covalent interaction can be broken or
disrupted (referred to herein as a "hybridization linker").
[0168] In some embodiments, it necessary to spatially separate
certain functional groups from others in order to prevent
interference with the individual functionalities. For example, the
presence of a label, which absorbs certain wavelengths of light,
proximate to a photocleavable group can interfere with the
efficiency of photocleavage. It is therefore desirable to separate
such groups with a non-interfering moiety that provides sufficient
spatial separation to recover full activity of photocleavage, for
example. In some embodiments, a "spacing linker" has been
introduced into an aptamer with both a label and photocleavage
functionality.
[0169] In one embodiment, spacing linkers are introduced into the
aptamer during synthesis and so can be comprised of number of
phosphoramidite spacers, including but limited to aliphatic carbon
chains of length 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18 carbon atoms, polyethylene
glycol chains of length 1, 3, and 9 ethylene glycol units, or a
tetrahydrofuran moiety (termed dSpacer (Glenn Research) or any
combination of the foregoing or any other structure or chemical
component that can be designed or configured to add length along a
phosphodiester backbone. In another embodiment, the spacing linker
includes polynucleotides, such as poly dT, dA, dG, or dC or poly U,
A, G, or C or any combination of the foregoing. In another
embodiment, spacers include one or more abasic ribose or
deoxyribose moieties. Note that such sequences are designed such
that they do not interfere with the aptamer's structure or
function.
[0170] As used herein, an "inline cleavable linker" refers to a
group of atoms that contains a releasable or cleavable element. In
some embodiments, an inline cleavable linker is used to join an
aptamer to a tag, thereby forming a releasable tag. For example, an
inline releasable linker can be utilized in any of the described
assays to create a releasable connection between an aptamer and a
biotin (e.g., in the affinity assays and cros slinking assays) or a
releasable connection between an aptamer and a photocrosslinking
group (e.g. in the crosslinking assays).
[0171] In one embodiment, the inline cleavable linker may be
photo-cleavable in that it includes a bond that can be cleaved by
irradiating the releasable element at the appropriate wavelength of
light. In another embodiment, the inline cleavable linker may be
chemically cleavable in that it includes a bond that can be cleaved
by treating it with an appropriate chemical or enzymatic reagent.
In another embodiment, the releasable element includes a disulfide
bond that can be cleaved by treating it with a reducing agent to
disrupt the bond.
[0172] As used herein, a "hybridization linker" refers to a linker
that comprises two or more molecules in which a non-covalent
interaction can be broken or disrupted through chemical or physical
methods. In some embodiments, a hybridization linker is used to
join an aptamer to a tag, thereby forming a releasable tag. For
example, a hybridization linker can be utilized in any of the
described assays to create a releasable connection between an
aptamer and a biotin (e.g. in the affinity assays and crosslinking
assays) or a releasable connection between an aptamer and a
photocrosslinking group (e.g. in the crosslinking assays).
[0173] In one embodiment, a hybridization linker comprises two
nucleic acids that hybridize to form a non-covalent bond. In one
embodiment, one of the nucleic acids that forms the hybridization
link can be a region of the aptamer itself and the other nucleic
acid can be a nucleic acid that is complementary to that region.
Release can be accomplished by any suitable mechanism for
disrupting nucleic acid duplexes (while still maintaining
compatibility with the assay). In one embodiment, 20 mM NaOH is
used to disrupt the hybridization linker in the dual catch
photocrosslinking assay. A hybridization linker molecule may have
any suitable configuration and can include any suitable components,
including one or more polynucleotides, polypeptides, peptide
nucleic acids, locked nucleic acids, oligosaccharides,
polysaccharides, antibodies, affybodies, antibody mimics or
fragments, receptors, ligands, lipids, any fragment or derivative
of these structures, any combination of the foregoing, or any other
structure or chemical component that can be designed or configured
to form a releasable structure.
[0174] In one embodiment, the releasable tag consists of at least
one polynucleotide consisting of a suitable number of nucleotides.
In one embodiment, a polynucleotide component of a linker molecule
includes at least about 10 nucleotides. In another embodiment, a
polynucleotide component of a linker molecule includes from about
10 to about 45 nucleotides. In yet another embodiment, a
polynucleotide component of a linker molecule includes at least
about 30 nucleotides. Linker molecules used in any of the methods
disclosed herein can include polynucleotide components having
either the same number of nucleotides or a different number of
nucleotides.
[0175] "Solid support" refers to any substrate having a surface to
which molecules may be attached, directly or indirectly, through
either covalent or non-covalent bonds. The solid support may
include any substrate material that is capable of providing
physical support for the capture elements or probes that are
attached to the surface. The material is generally capable of
enduring conditions related to the attachment of the capture
elements or probes to the surface and any subsequent treatment,
handling, or processing encountered during the performance of an
assay. The materials may be naturally occurring, synthetic, or a
modification of a naturally occurring material. Suitable solid
support materials may include silicon, a silicon wafer chip,
graphite, mirrored surfaces, laminates, membranes, ceramics,
plastics (including polymers such as, e.g., poly(vinyl chloride),
cyclo-olefin copolymers, agarose gels or beads, polyacrylamide,
polyacrylate, polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(4-methylbutene),
polystyrene, polymethacrylate, poly(ethylene terephthalate),
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE or Teflon.RTM.), nylon, poly(vinyl
butyrate)), germanium, gallium arsenide, gold, silver, Langmuir
Blodgett films, a flow through chip, etc., either used by
themselves or in conjunction with other materials. Additional rigid
materials may be considered, such as glass, which includes silica
and further includes, for example, glass that is available as
Bioglass. Other materials that may be employed include porous
materials, such as, for example, controlled pore glass beads,
crosslinked beaded Sepharose.RTM. or agarose resins, or copolymers
of crosslinked bis-acrylamide and azalactone. Other beads include
polymer beads, solid core beads, paramagnetic beads, or microbeads.
Any other materials known in the art that are capable of having one
or more functional groups, such as any of an amino, carboxyl,
thiol, or hydroxyl functional group, for example, incorporated on
its surface, are also contemplated.
[0176] The material used for a solid support may take any of a
variety of configurations ranging from simple to complex. The solid
support can have any one of a number of shapes, including a strip,
plate, disk, rod, particle, bead, tube, well (microtiter), and the
like. The solid support may be porous or non-porous, magnetic,
paramagnetic, or non-magnetic, polydisperse or monodisperse,
hydrophilic or hydrophobic. The solid support may also be in the
form of a gel or slurry of closely-packed (as in a column matrix)
or loosely-packed particles.
[0177] In one embodiment, the solid support with attached capture
element is used to capture tagged aptamer affinity complexes or
aptamer covalent complexes from a test mixture. In one particular
example, when the tag is a biotin moiety, the solid support could
be a streptavidin-coated bead or resin such as Dynabeads M-280
Streptavidin, Dynabeads MyOne Streptavidin, Dynabeads M-270
Streptavidin (Invitrogen), Streptavidin Agarose Resin (Pierce),
Streptavidin Ultralink Resin, MagnaBind Streptavidin Beads
(ThermoFisher Scientific), BioMag Streptavidin, ProMag
Streptavidin, Silica Streptavidin (Bangs Laboratories),
Streptavidin Sepharose High Performance (GE Healthcare),
Streptavidin Polystyrene Microspheres (Microspheres-Nanospheres),
Streptavidin Coated Polystyrene Particles (Spherotech), or any
other streptavidin coated bead or resin commonly used by one
skilled in the art to capture biotin-tagged molecules.
[0178] As has been described above, one object of the instant
invention is to convert a protein signal into an aptamer signal. As
a result the quantity of aptamers collected/detected is indicative
of, and may be directly proportional to, the quantity of target
molecules bound and to the quantity of target molecules in the
sample. A number of detection schemes can be employed without
eluting the aptamer affinity or aptamer covalent complex from the
second solid support after Catch 2 partitioning. In addition to the
following embodiments of detection methods, other detection methods
will be known to one skilled in the art.
[0179] Many detection methods require an explicit label to be
incorporated into the aptamer prior to detection. In these
embodiments, labels, such as, for example, fluorescent or
chemiluminescent dyes can be incorporated into aptamers either
during or post synthesis using standard techniques for nucleic acid
synthesis. Radioactive labels can be incorporated either during
synthesis or post synthesis using standard enzyme reactions with
the appropriate reagents. Labeling can also occur after the Catch 2
partitioning and elution by using suitable enzymatic techniques.
For example, using a primer with the above mentioned labels, PCR
will incorporate labels into the amplification product of the
eluted aptamers. When using a gel technique for quantification,
different size mass labels can be incorporated using PCR as well.
These mass labels can also incorporate different fluorescent or
chemiluminescent dyes for additional multiplexing capacity. Labels
may be added indirectly to aptamers by using a specific tag
incorporated into the aptamer, either during synthesis or post
synthetically, and then adding a probe that associates with the tag
and carries the label. The labels include those described above as
well as enzymes used in standard assays for colorimetric readouts,
for example. These enzymes work in combination with enzyme
substrates and include enzymes such as, for example, horseradish
peroxidase (HRP) and alkaline phosphatase (AP). Labels may also
include materials or compounds that are electrochemical functional
groups for electrochemical detection.
[0180] For example, the aptamer may be labeled, as described above,
with a radioactive isotope such as .sup.32P prior to contacting the
test sample. Employing any one of the four basic assays, and
variations thereof as discussed above, aptamer detection may be
simply accomplished by quantifying the radioactivity on the second
solid support at the end of the assay. The counts of radioactivity
will be directly proportional to the amount of target in the
original test sample. Similarly, labeling an aptamer with a
fluorescent dye, as described above, before contacting the test
sample allows for a simple fluorescent readout directly on the
second solid support. A chemiluminescent label or a quantum dot can
be similarly employed for direct readout from the second solid
support, requiring no aptamer elution.
[0181] By eluting the aptamer or releasing photoaptamer covalent
complex from the second solid support additional detection schemes
can be employed in addition to those described above. For example,
the released aptamer, photoaptamer or photoaptamer covalent complex
can be run on a PAGE gel and detected and optionally quantified
with a nucleic acid stain, such as SYBR Gold. Alternatively, the
released aptamer, photoaptamer or photoaptamer covalent complex can
be detected and quantified using capillary gel electrophoresis
(CGE) using a fluorescent label incorporated in the aptamer as
described above. Another detection scheme employs quantitative PCR
to detect and quantify the eluted aptamer using SYBR Green, for
example. Alternatively, the Invader.RTM. DNA assay may be employed
to detect and quantify the eluted aptamer.
[0182] In another embodiment, the amount or concentration of the
aptamer affinity complex (or aptamer covalent complex) is
determined using a "molecular beacon" during a replicative process
(see, e.g., Tyagi et al., Nat. Biotech. 16:49 53, 1998; U.S. Pat.
No. 5,925,517). A molecular beacon is a specific nucleic acid probe
that folds into a hairpin loop and contains a fluorophore on one
end and a quencher on the other end of the hairpin structure such
that little or no signal is generated by the fluorophore when the
hairpin is formed. The loop sequence is specific for a target
polynucleotide sequence and, upon hybridizing to the aptamer
sequence the hairpin unfolds and thereby generates a fluorescent
signal.
[0183] For multiplexed detection of a small number of aptamers
still bound to the second solid support, fluorescent dyes with
different excitation/emission spectra can be employed to detect and
quantify two, or three, or five, or up to ten individual aptamers.
Similarly different sized quantum dots can be employed for
multiplexed readouts. The quantum dots can be introduced after
partitioning free aptamer from the second solid support. By using
aptamer specific hybridization sequences attached to unique quantum
dots multiplexed readings for 2, 3, 5, and up to 10 aptamers can be
performed. Labeling different aptamers with different radioactive
isotopes that can be individually detected, such as .sup.32P,
.sup.125I, .sup.3H, .sup.13C, and .sup.35S, can also be used for
limited multiplex readouts.
[0184] For multiplexed detection of aptamers released from the
Catch 2 second solid support, a single fluorescent dye,
incorporated into each aptamer as described above, can be used with
a quantification method that allows for the identification of the
aptamer sequence along with quantification of the aptamer level.
Methods include but are not limited to DNA chip hybridization,
micro-bead hybridization, and CGE analysis.
[0185] In one embodiment, a standard DNA hybridization array, or
chip, is used to hybridize each aptamer or photoaptamer to a unique
or series of unique probes immobilized on a slide or chip such as
Agilent arrays, Illumina BeadChip Arrays, or NimbleGen arrays. Each
unique probe is complementary to a sequence on the aptamer. The
complementary sequence may be a unique hybridization tag
incorporated in the aptamer, or a portion of the aptamer sequence,
or the entire aptamer sequence. The aptamers released from the
Catch 2 solid support are added to an appropriate hybridization
buffer and processed using standard hybridization methods. For
example, the aptamer solution is incubated for 12 hours with a DNA
hybridization array at about 60.degree. C. to ensure stringency of
hybridization. The arrays are washed and then scanned in a
fluorescent slide scanner, producing an image of the aptamer
hybridization intensity on each feature of the array. Image
segmentation and quantification is accomplished using image
processing software, such as ArrayVision. In one embodiment,
multiplexed aptamer assays can be detected using up to 25 aptamers,
up to 50 aptamers, up to 100 aptamers, up to 200 aptamers, up to
500 aptamers, up to 1000 aptamers, and up to 10,000 aptamers.
[0186] In one embodiment, addressable micro-beads having unique DNA
probes complementary to the aptamers as described above are used
for hybridization. The micro-beads may be addressable with unique
fluorescent dyes, such as Luminex beads technology, or use bar code
labels as in the Illumina VeraCode technology, or laser powered
transponders. In one embodiment, the aptamers released from the
Catch 2 solid support are added to an appropriate hybridization
buffer and processed using standard micro-bead hybridization
methods. For example, the aptamer solution is incubated for two
hours with a set of micro-beads at about 60.degree. C. to ensure
stringency of hybridization. The solutions are then processed on a
Luminex instrument which counts the individual bead types and
quantifies the aptamer fluorescent signal. In another embodiment,
the VeraCode beads are contacted with the aptamer solution and
hybridized for two hours at about 60.degree. C. and then deposited
on a gridded surface and scanned using a slide scanner for
identification and fluorescence quantification. In another
embodiment, the transponder micro-beads are incubated with the
aptamer sample at about 60.degree. C. and then quantified using an
appropriate device for the transponder micro-beads. In one
embodiment, multiplex aptamer assays can be detected by
hybridization to micro-beads using up to 25 aptamers, up to 50
aptamers, up to 100 aptamers, up to 200 aptamers, and up to 500
aptamers.
[0187] The sample containing the eluted aptamers can be processed
to incorporate unique mass tags along with fluorescent labels as
described above. The mass labeled aptamers are then injected into a
CGE instrument, essentially a DNA sequencer, and the aptamers are
identified by their unique masses and quantified using fluorescence
from the dye incorporated during the labeling reaction. One
exemplary example of this technique has been developed by Althea
Technologies.
[0188] In many of the methods described above, the solution of
aptamers can be amplified and optionally tagged before
quantification. Standard PCR amplification can be used with the
solution of aptamers eluted from the Catch 2 solid support. Such
amplification can be used prior to DNA array hybridization,
micro-bead hybridization, and CGE readout.
[0189] In another embodiment, the aptamer affinity complex (or
aptamer covalent complex) is detected and/or quantified using
Q-PCR. As used herein, "Q-PCR" refers to a PCR reaction performed
in such a way and under such controlled conditions that the results
of the assay are quantitative, that is, the assay is capable of
quantifying the amount or concentration of aptamer present in the
test sample.
[0190] In one embodiment, the amount or concentration of the
aptamer affinity complex (or aptamer covalent complex) in the test
sample is determined using TaqMan.RTM. PCR. This technique
generally relies on the 5'-3' exonuclease activity of the
oligonucleotide replicating enzyme to generate a signal from a
targeted sequence. A TaqMan probe is selected based upon the
sequence of the aptamer to be quantified and generally includes a
5'-end fluorophore, such as 6-carboxyfluorescein, for example, and
a 3'-end quencher, such as, for example, a
6-carboxytetramethylfluorescein, to generate signal as the aptamer
sequence is amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). As the
polymerase copies the aptamer sequence, the exonuclease activity
frees the fluorophore from the probe, which is annealed downstream
from the PCR primers, thereby generating signal. The signal
increases as replicative product is produced. The amount of PCR
product depends upon both the number of replicative cycles
performed as well as the starting concentration of the aptamer.
[0191] In another embodiment, the amount or concentration of an
aptamer affinity complex (or aptamer covalent complex) is
determined using an intercalating fluorescent dye during the
replicative process. The intercalating dye, such as, for example,
SYBR.RTM. green, generates a large fluorescent signal in the
presence of double-stranded DNA as compared to the fluorescent
signal generated in the presence of single-stranded DNA. As the
double-stranded DNA product is formed during PCR, the signal
produced by the dye increases. The magnitude of the signal produced
is dependent upon both the number of PCR cycles and the starting
concentration of the aptamer.
[0192] In another embodiment, the aptamer affinity complex (or
aptamer covalent complex) is detected and/or quantified using mass
spectrometry. Unique mass tags can be introduced using enzymatic
techniques described above. For mass spectroscopy readout, no
detection label is required, rather the mass itself is used to both
identify and, using techniques commonly used by those skilled in
the art, quantified based on the location and area under the mass
peaks generated during the mass spectroscopy analysis. An example
using mass spectroscopy is the MassARRAY.RTM. system developed by
Sequenom.
[0193] In other embodiments, aptamer constructs that include
different built-in functionalities are provided. These
functionalities may include tags for immobilization, labels for
detection, photoreactive groups, means to promote or control
separation, etc. In one embodiment, an aptamer includes a cleavable
or releasable section (also described as an element or component)
in the aptamer sequence. These additional components or elements
are structural elements or components that introduce additional
functionality into the aptamer. In other embodiments, the aptamer
includes one or more of the following additional components (also
described as a functional or structural element or component or
moiety): a labeled or detectable component, a spacer component, a
cleavable element, and a specific binding tag or immobilization
element or component. For example, in one embodiment of the
photocrosslinking aptamer, the aptamer includes a tag connected to
the aptamer via a cleavable moiety, a label, a spacer component
separating the label and the cleavable moiety, and a
photocrosslinking moiety, as shown in FIG. 3L.
[0194] All aptamer constructs can be synthesized using standard
phosphoramidite chemistry. Representative aptamer constructs are
shown in FIG. 3A through FIG. 3L. The functionality can be split
between the 5' and 3' end or combined on either end. In addition to
photocleavable moieties, other cleavable moieties can be used,
including chemically or enzymatically cleavable moieties. A variety
of spacer moieties can be used and one or more biotin moieties can
be included. Tags (also referred to as immobilization or specific
binding elements or components) other than biotin can also be
incorporated. Suitable construction reagents include biotin
phosphoramidite, PC Linker (Glen Research PN 10-4920-02); PC biotin
phosphoramidite (Glen Research PN 10-4950-02); dSpacer CE
phosphoramidite (Glen Research PN 10-1914-02); Cy3 phosphoramidite
(Glen Research PN 10-5913-02); and Arm26-Ach Spacer Amidite
(Fidelity Systems PN SP26Ach-05). As illustrated in FIG. 3K, a
fluorescent dye (such as Cy3), a spacer, the photocleavable and
biotin moieties may be added to the end of the aptamer. In one
embodiment, because of potential interactions between the
photocleavable moiety and the dye, the spacer is inserted between
these two moieties.
[0195] In one embodiment, the tag is covalently attached to the
aptamer, as illustrated in FIGS. 3I-3K. In another embodiment, the
tag is indirectly attached to the aptamer in the form of a
hybridized polynucleotide sequence, which is complementary to a
portion of the aptamer sequence, that has a covalently attached
tag, as illustrated in FIGS. 3E-3H.
[0196] In one embodiment, an aptamer can be further modified to
include a first cleavable moiety positioned between the
crosslinking group and a unique sequence within the aptamer. This
first cleavable moiety may, for example, be cleavable by a variety
of different means including, chemical, photochemical or ionic
depending upon the cleavable moiety employed. In one embodiment, an
aptamer has the structure is shown in FIG. 3B. For example, the
photocrosslinking group may be 4-azido-2-nitro-aniline and the
photocleavable group, or releasable moiety, may be a PC Linker
available from Glen Research as a phosphoramidite
(-(4,4'-dimethoxytrityl)-1-(2-nitrophenyl)-propan-1-yl-[(2-cyanoethyl)-(N-
,N-diisopropyl)]-phosphoramidite).
[0197] In other embodiments, the aptamer includes a capture tag
that is joined to the aptamer through a releasable group. For
example, a biotin capture tag may be attached to the aptamer via a
second oligonucleotide that hybridizes to the aptamer as
illustrated in FIG. 3F. In other embodiments, other capture tags or
cleavable elements can be attached to the same aptamer. For
example, a poly-His tag may be attached to the aptamer via a second
chemical or photocleavable moiety. The advantage to this aptamer
construct is that two different processing steps can be applied to
separate the aptamer affinity (or covalent) complex from other
components in the test sample. These separation steps can be used
in any sequence desired.
[0198] In another embodiment, a detection label can also be
included within the aptamer as illustrated in FIG. 3C. This
detection label provides for the detection and/or quantification of
the free aptamer in the final step of the assay as described in
detail above. For example, for fluorescent detection, a fluorescent
dye such as Cy3 or Cy5 dye may be incorporated within aptamer. A
Cy3 may be introduced using the Cy3 phosphoramidite from Glen
Research
([3-(4-monomethoxytrityloxy)propyl]-1'-[3-[(2-cyanoethyl)-(N,N-diisopropy-
l)phosphoramidityl]propyl]-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine
chloride)), but any suitable label may be included in the
aptamer.
[0199] As used in this specification, including the appended
claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural
references, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise, and are
used interchangeably with "at least one" and "one or more." Thus,
reference to "an aptamer" includes mixtures of aptamers, reference
to "a probe" includes mixtures of probes, and the like.
[0200] As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising,"
"includes," "including," "contains," "containing," and any
variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive
inclusion, such that a process, method, product-by-process, or
composition of matter that comprises, includes, or contains an
element or list of elements does not include only those elements
but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to
such process, method, product-by-process, or composition of
matter.
[0201] As used herein, the term "about" represents an insignificant
modification or variation of the numerical values such that the
basic function of the item to which the numerical value relates is
unchanged.
[0202] As used herein, "associate," "associates," and any variation
thereof refers to an interaction or complexation between a tag and
a probe resulting in a sufficiently stable complex so as to permit
separation of "unassociated" or unbound materials, such as, for
example, unbound components of a test sample, from the tag-probe
complex under given complexation or reaction conditions. A tag and
a probe can associate with each other directly by interacting and
binding to each other with specificity. A tag and a probe can also
associate with each other indirectly such as when their
complexation is mediated by a linker molecule.
[0203] A computer program may be utilized to carry out one or more
steps of any of the methods disclosed herein. Another aspect of the
present disclosure is a computer program product comprising a
computer readable storage medium having a computer program stored
thereon which, when loaded into a computer, performs or assists in
the performance of any of the methods disclosed herein.
[0204] One aspect of the disclosure is a product of any of the
methods disclosed herein, namely, an assay result, which may be
evaluated at the site of the testing or it may be shipped to
another site for evaluation and communication to an interested
party at a remote location, if desired. As used herein, "remote
location" refers to a location that is physically different than
that at which the results are obtained. Accordingly, the results
may be sent to a different room, a different building, a different
part of city, a different city, and so forth. The data may be
transmitted by any suitable means such as, e.g., facsimile, mail,
overnight delivery, e-mail, ftp, voice mail, and the like.
[0205] "Communicating" information refers to the transmission of
the data representing that information as electrical signals over a
suitable communication channel (for example, a private or public
network). "Forwarding" an item refers to any means of getting that
item from one location to the next, whether by physically
transporting that item or otherwise (where that is possible) and
includes, at least in the case of data, physically transporting a
medium carrying the data or communicating the data.
EXAMPLES
[0206] The following examples are provided for illustrative
purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the
invention as defined in the appended claims.
[0207] The foregoing describes the disclosure with reference to
various embodiments and examples. No particular embodiment,
example, or element of a particular embodiment or example is to be
construed as a critical, required, or essential element or feature
of any of the claims.
[0208] It will be appreciated that various modifications and
substitutions can be made to the disclosed embodiments without
departing from the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the
claims below. The specification, including the figures and
examples, is to be regarded in an illustrative manner, rather than
a restrictive one, and all such modifications and substitutions are
intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.
Accordingly, the scope of the disclosure may be determined by the
appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the
examples. For example, steps recited in any of the method or
process claims may be executed in any feasible order and are not
limited to an order presented in any of the embodiments, the
examples, or the claims.
Example 1
Aptamer and Primer Constructs
[0209] Aptamer and biotinylated primer constructs with different
5'-terminal functional groups were produced and the differences are
shown in FIG. 6. The aptamer contained a Cy3 fluorescent dye (Cy3
Phosphoramidite from Glen Research
(-[3-(4-monomethoxytrityloxy)propyl]-1'-[3-[(2-cyanoethyl)-(N,N-diisoprop-
yl)phosphoramidityl]propyl]-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine
chloride)) at the 5' terminus, and the primer contained two biotin
residues ((AB).sub.2), a (T).sub.8 linker, and a photocleavable
moiety (PC Linker available from Glen Research as a phosphoramidite
(-(4,4'-Dimethoxytrityl)-1-(2-nitrophenyl)-propan-1-yl-[(2-cyanoethyl)-(N-
,N-diisopropyl)]-phosphoramidite). For the method described in FIG.
6, the aptamer contained a photoreactive crosslinking group
referred to herein as ANA (4-azido-2-nitro-aniline), a
photocleavable moiety (PC Linker), and a Cy3 dye at the 5'
terminus, and the primer contained two biotin residues and a
(T).sub.8 linker.
Example 2
Affinity Binding Method (2 Catch Method)
[0210] a) Buffer
[0211] 30 .mu.L of a Cy3-aptamer mixture (2 nM each aptamer) was
combined with 30 .mu.L of an (AB).sub.2-T8-PC-primer mixture (6 nM
for each primer) in SB17T and incubated at 95.degree. C. for 4
minutes, at 37.degree. C. for 13 minutes. In a separate reaction,
60 .mu.L of a target protein mixture was prepared (2.times.
concentration in SB17T). 55 .mu.L of the target protein mixture was
combined with 55 .mu.L of the aptamer/primer mixture in a 96-well
plate (Omni-Tube Plate, Abgene #AB0407) and incubated at 37.degree.
C. for 15 minutes to achieve binding equilibrium. All following
steps were performed at room temperature unless otherwise
noted.
[0212] b) Plasma, Serum or Whole Blood
[0213] 30 .mu.L of a Cy3-aptamer mixture (2 nM each aptamer) was
combined with 30 .mu.L of an (AB).sub.2-T8-PC-primer mixture (6 nM
for each primer) in SB17T and incubated at 95.degree. C. for 4
minutes, at 37.degree. C. for 13 minutes. In a separate reaction,
30 .mu.L of a 1.times. to 2.5.times. dilution of a complex
biological protein mixture (plasma, serum, whole blood) was
prepared in a diluent containing Z-block competitor oligonucleotide
(5'-(ACZZ).sub.7AC-3', where Z=5-benzyl-dUTP, 4 .mu.M) and
incubated for 5 minutes. The complex biological protein mixture was
combined with 30 .mu.L of a target protein mixture (4.times.
concentration in SB17T). 55 .mu.L of the target protein/biological
matrix mixture was combined with 55 .mu.L of the aptamer/primer
mixture and incubated at 37.degree. C. for 15 minutes to achieve
binding equilibrium. All following steps were performed at room
temperature unless otherwise noted.
[0214] c) Biotinylated Aptamer Capture and Free Protein
Removal.
[0215] 133 .mu.L of streptavidin-agarose resin (Pierce Immobilized
Streptavidin, #20353, 7.5% aqueous slurry) was washed twice with
200 .mu.L SB17T by vacuum filtration through a Durapore membrane
(MultiScreen-HV45, Millipore #MAHVN4550). 100 .mu.L of the
aptamer:protein mixture was added to the washed resin and is mixed
for 15 minutes. The resin was washed once with 200 .mu.L SB17T
containing 10 .mu.M biotin (Sigma-Aldrich, Inc. #B4501-1G) and once
with 200 .mu.L SB17T by vacuum filtration.
[0216] d) Protein Tagging and Aptamer Release
[0217] 100 .mu.L of SB17T containing 1.2 mM NHS-PEO4-biotin (Pierce
#21329) was added to the washed resin and mixed for 20 minutes. The
resin was washed five times with 200 .mu.L SB17T by vacuum
filtration and once with 200 .mu.L SB17T by centrifugation,
resuspended in 75 .mu.L SB17T containing 10 mM dextran sulfate (Mr
.about.5000, Sigma-Aldrich #31404), and irradiated with a UV lamp
(two Sylvania 350 Blacklight bulbs, 15W, sample 5 cm from source) 5
minutes with mixing. The resin was removed by centrifugation
through the Durapore membrane, and the eluate with released
aptamer:protein complexes was collected in a 1.1 mL 96-well plate
(1.1 mL Deep-Well plate, Marsh Biomedical #DW9611) containing 150
.mu.L SB17T+10 mM dextran sulfate.
[0218] e) Protein Capture and Free Aptamer Removal
[0219] 50 .mu.L of streptavidin resin (DynaBeads MyOne Streptavidin
Cl, Invitrogen #650-03, 10 mg/mL in SB17T) was added to a Durapore
membrane. The 225 .mu.L aptamer:protein mixture was added to the
resin and mixed for 15 minutes. The resin was washed twice with 200
.mu.L SB17T containing 10 mM dextran sulfate, once with 200 .mu.L
SB17T by vacuum filtration, and once with 200 .mu.L SB17T by
centrifugation.
[0220] f) Complexed Aptamer Release
[0221] The resin was resuspended in 90 .mu.L Elution Buffer (2 mM
NaOH, 0.1% TWEEN-20) and mixed for 5 minutes. During this time,
aptamer is released from the protein:aptamer complex. The resin was
removed by centrifugation, and the eluate with released aptamer was
collected. 80 .mu.L eluate was neutralized and buffered with 20
.mu.L Neutralization Buffer (8 mM HCl, 0.5 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5),
0.1% TWEEN-20). Aptamer was detected as described in Example 4.
[0222] g) Results
[0223] A twelve point dilution series in buffer was created for
eleven protein analytes (bFGF, Eotaxin-2, FGF7, FGF-16, GDNF, IL-7,
IL-20, Lymphotactin, TARC, tPA, VEGF) starting with a 10 nM or 3 nM
(bFGF, FGF7, tPA, Lymphotactin) concentration of each analyte and
serially diluting to 33 fM with half-log dilutions (dilution factor
of 3.1623). Two no protein controls were included to give a total
of fourteen samples. The Cy3-aptamer mixture contained the eleven
aptamers to the target proteins in the dilution series as well as
twenty-eight control aptamers whose target proteins were absent.
Three replicate dilution series were prepared. The results are set
forth in FIGS. 7-10.
[0224] FIGS. 7A to 7C show relative fluorescence units (RFU) versus
concentration plots (log-log dose response curve) for three of the
eleven target proteins in buffer. Limit of Detection values (LOD)
were calculated for each protein as the protein concentration
giving a signal equal to the average plus two standard deviations
of the no-protein values). LODs for the three proteins were 630 fM
(bFGF), 90 fM (FGF7) and 530 fM (Lymphotactin). The affinity assay
is able to detect proteins in buffer at sub-picomolar levels.
[0225] FIG. 8 shows a relative fluorescence units (RFU) versus
concentration plot for three replicate measurements for the target
protein Lymphotactin in buffer. The three lines represent dose
response curves for each of the three replicates. The replicate
curves are in very good agreement with each other indicating a high
level of reproducibility for the affinity assay protocol.
[0226] A twelve point dilution series was also conducted in 10%
plasma for five protein analytes (bFGF, Eotaxin-2, Lymphotactin,
tPA and VEGF) starting with a 10 nM (VEGF and Eotaxin-2) or 3 nM
(bFGF, tPA, Lymphotactin) concentration of each analyte and
serially diluting to 420 fM or 126 fM with 2.5-fold dilutions. Two
no-protein controls were included to give a total of fourteen
samples that were subsequently hybridized on a microarray slide.
The Cy3-aptamer mixture contained the five aptamers to the target
proteins in the dilution series as well as five control aptamers
whose target proteins were absent. The assay was performed as
described above with the following exceptions. 100% PPT-plasma
(pooled human plasma) was diluted 1 to 2 with 5 .mu.M Z-block in
0.5.times.SB18, 0.05% TWEEN-20. 40 .mu.L of this 50% plasma
solution was mixed with 60 .mu.L of a protein mixture at
3.33.times. the final concentration. 50 .mu.L of the plasma/protein
mixture was combined with 50 .mu.L of aptamer/primer mixture (3 nM
aptamer, 9 nM primer). The equilibration binding reaction was
performed at 37.degree. C. for 15 min. 40 .mu.L of the whole
blood-protein-aptamer mixture (instead of 100 .mu.L) was added to
the streptavidin-agarose resin and mixed for 15 min.
[0227] FIG. 9 shows a relative fluorescence units (RFU) versus
concentration plot for the target protein Lymphotactin in 10% human
plasma. This curve is similar in shape and response to the dose
response curves in buffer. This shows that the affinity assay
protocol can be performed, but is not limited to 10% plasma
solution.
[0228] FIG. 10 shows a relative fluorescence units (RFU) versus
concentration plot for the target protein Lymphotactin in 10% whole
human blood. This curve is similar in shape and response to the
dose response curves in 10% human plasma (FIG. 9), and demonstrates
the performance of the affinity assay protocol in complex
biological matrices without any apparent matrix effects.
Example 3
Photo-Crosslink Assay Protocol
[0229] All steps of this protocol were performed with minimal light
exposure to prevent photoactivation of the photoaptamer.
[0230] a) Protein Binding
[0231] 30 .mu.L of an ANA-PC-Cy3-aptamer mixture (2 nM each
aptamer) was combined with 30 .mu.L of an (AB).sub.2-T8-primer
mixture (6 nM for each aptamer) in SB17T Buffer (40 mM HEPES, pH
7.5, 120 mM NaCl, 5 mM KCl, 5 mM MgCl.sub.2, 1 mM EDTA, 0.05%
TWEEN-20) and incubated at 95.degree. C. for 4 minutes, at
37.degree. C. for 13 minutes. In a separate reaction, 60 .mu.L of a
protein mixture was prepared at a 2.times. concentration. 55 .mu.L
of the target protein mixture was combined with 55 .mu.L of the
aptamer/primer mixture in a 96-well plate (Omni-Tube Plate, Abgene
#AB0407) and incubated at 37.degree. C. for 15 minutes to achieve
binding equilibrium. All following steps were performed at room
temperature unless otherwise noted.
[0232] b) Kinetic Challenge and Photo-Crosslinking
[0233] 100 .mu.L of equilibrated sample was added to 1400 .mu.L
SB17T containing 10 mM dextran sulfate (Mr .about.5000,
Sigma-Aldrich #31404) and incubated at 37.degree. C. for 15
minutes. The 1.5 mL sample was irradiated with 470 nm light (Custom
LED array) at 37.degree. C. for 10 minutes to covalently crosslink
the bound proteins to the photoaptamers.
[0234] c) Biotinylated Aptamer Capture and Free Protein Removal
[0235] 40 .mu.L of streptavidin resin (DynaBeads MyOne Streptavidin
Cl, Invitrogen #650-03, 10 mg/mL in SB17T) was added to the 1.5 mL
sample and incubated at 25.degree. C. for 30 minutes with mixing.
The resin was pelleted by centrifugation and 1.4 mL of supernatant
was removed. The resin and remaining supernatant were transferred
to a Durapore membrane (MultiScreen-HV45, Millipore #MAHVN4550) and
the supernatant was removed by vacuum filtration. The resin was
washed twice with 200 .mu.L SB17T containing 10 .mu.M biotin
(Sigma-Aldrich, Inc. #B4501-1G) and once with 200 .mu.L SB17T by
vacuum filtration.
[0236] d) Protein Tagging and Aptamer (Free and Complexed)
Release
[0237] 100 .mu.L of SB17T containing 1.2 mM NHS-PEO4-biotin (Pierce
#21329) was added to the washed resin and mixed for 20 minutes. The
resin was washed three times with 200 .mu.L Guanidine Wash Buffer
(3M guanidine, 50 mM NaCl, 40 mM HEPES pH 7.5, 2 mM EDTA, 0.05%
TWEEN-20, 1 mM TROLOX), and twice with 200 .mu.L HEPES Wash Buffer
(50 mM NaCl, 40 mM HEPES pH 7.5, 0.05% TWEEN-20, 1 mM TROLOX) by
vacuum filtration. The resin was resuspended in 110 .mu.L 20 mM
NaOH and mixed for 5 minutes. The resin was removed by
centrifugation, and the NaOH eluate with released aptamer:protein
complexes was collected. 100 .mu.L of eluate was neutralized with
25 .mu.L 80 mM HCl, and buffered with 10 .mu.L 55 mM HEPES (pH 7.5)
containing 2M NaCl and 1% TWEEN-20.
[0238] e) Protein Capture and Free Aptamer Removal
[0239] 133 .mu.L of streptavidin resin (Pierce Immobilized
Streptavidin, #20347, 10% aqueous slurry) was washed twice with 200
.mu.L SB17T by vacuum filtration through a Durapore PVDF membrane.
The 135 .mu.L aptamer:protein mixture was added to the washed resin
and mixed for 20 minutes. The resin was washed once with 200 .mu.L
Guanidine Wash Buffer at 50.degree. C. for 10 minutes with mixing,
once with 200 .mu.L 20 mM NaOH for 2 minutes with mixing, twice
with 200 .mu.L SB17T by vacuum filtration, and once with 200 .mu.L
SB17T by centrifugation.
[0240] f) Photo-Crosslinked Aptamer Release
[0241] The resin was resuspended in 100 .mu.L SB17T and irradiated
with a UV lamp (two Sylvania 350 Blacklight bulbs, 15W, sample 5 cm
from source) for 20 minutes with mixing. During this time, aptamer
photo-crosslinked to protein is released by photocleavage. The
resin was removed by centrifugation through the Durapore membrane,
and the eluate with released aptamer was collected.
Example 4
Microarray Detection Protocol
[0242] a) Sample Preparation
[0243] 30 .mu.L of 4.times. Hybridization Buffer (3.638 M NaCl, 200
mM Na-phosphate, pH 7.5, 1 nM corner marker oligo, 4 mM TROLOX,
0.1% TWEEN-20) was added to 90 .mu.L of assay sample (product of
step e of the Example 2 or step f of Example 3).
[0244] b) Microarray Slides
[0245] A ProPlate Slide Module (CSW Gasket, FLC adhesive; Grace
Bio-Labs, #204841) was assembled with a microarray slide containing
14 (7.times.2) arrays spaced 9 mm apart. Each array consisted of
three replicas of 96 amine modified oligonucleotides complementary
to the random region of the aptamers. The oligonucleotides were
spotted with a contact printer in house on proprietary 3'.times.1'
polymer slides.
[0246] c) Microarray Blocking
[0247] 100 .mu.L of Blocking Buffer (Blocker Casein in PBS, Pierce
#37528, 1 mM TROLOX) was added to the wells of the ProPlate Slide
Module and incubated at 65.degree. C. for 15-30 minutes. The
Blocking Buffer was removed.
[0248] d) Hybridization and Washing
[0249] 110 .mu.L of assay sample was added to the microarray, and a
3.times.1.times.0.125 inch aluminum block was placed on top of the
ProPlate Slide Module. The assembly was wrapped in aluminum foil
and incubated at 65.degree. C. for 16 hours without mixing in a
humidity chamber. The Al-foil and Al-block were removed along with
the assay sample, and the microarray was rinsed once with 200 .mu.L
of Wash Buffer 1 (50 mM Na-phosphate, pH 7.5, 0.1% TWEEN-20),
preheated to 65.degree. C. Wash Buffer 1 was removed and the
ProPlate Slide Module was disassembled. The microarray slide was
placed in a pap jar containing 25 mL Wash Buffer 1 (preheated to
65.degree. C.) and incubated at 65.degree. C. for 15 minutes with
mixing. The microarray slide was transferred to a second pap jar
containing 25 mL Wash Buffer 2 (50 mM Na-phosphate, pH 7.5,
preheated to 65.degree. C.) and incubated at 65.degree. C. for 5
minutes with mixing. The microarray slide was transferred to a
third pap jar containing 25 mL Wash Buffer 2 and incubated at
65.degree. C. for 5 minutes with mixing. The microarray slide was
removed from Wash Buffer 2 and immediately dried in a stream of dry
nitrogen.
[0250] e) Detection.
[0251] The microarray slide was scanned with a TECAN LS300 Reloaded
Fluorescence Laser Scanner, and fluorescence signal was quantified
on each feature using the software package ArrayVision (8.0 Rev
3.0, Imaging Research, Inc.). The fluorescence signal was
quantified using density as principal measure, with segmentation
and variable spot shape. The xml export file was imported into a
database for further data analysis.
[0252] f) Quantitative PCR Detection Protocol
[0253] Primer Design
[0254] Amplification primers for each aptamer were chosen using
PrimerQuest (Integrated DNA Technologies) with default parameter
settings except primer Tm min=60.degree. C., optimum=65.degree. C.,
and max=70.degree. C., and product size range=50-100 bp. Candidate
primers were than analyzed for internal hairpin, homo-dimer, and
hetero-dimer 3' end complementarity, with OligoAnalyzer 3.0
(Integrated DNA Technologies) with default parameter settings
except oligo conc.=0.2 .mu.M. Candidates were rejected if 3' end
complementarity .DELTA.G.ltoreq.-3.5 kcal/mol.
[0255] Quantitative PCR Reaction
[0256] 5 .mu.L of neutralized assay sample (see step 5 of the
Affinity Assay Protocol (Example 2) or step 6 of the
Photo-Crosslink Assay Protocol (Example 3)) was diluted 20.times.
with 95 .mu.L dH2O. 20 .mu.L amplification reactions were prepared
with 5 .mu.L of diluted assay sample and 1.times.KOD Buffer
(Novagen #), 0.2 mM each dATP, dCTP, dGTP, and dTTP, 1.times.SYBR
Green I (Invitrogen #), 0.2 .mu.M each 5' and 3' primer, and 0.025
U/.mu.L KOD XL DNA Polymerase (Novagen #). Samples were prepared in
a bio hood with contaminant-free reagents. One pair of primers was
used in each reaction for quantification of one aptamer. Samples
with known quantities of aptamer were also prepared for generating
standard curves. Samples were amplified in a Bio-Rad iCyler by
incubating at 95.degree. C. for 2 minutes, cycling 40 times at
95.degree. C. for 15 seconds followed by 72.degree. C. for 60
seconds.
[0257] Data Analysis
[0258] For each aptamer, threshold cycle (Ct) values were
determined for each sample from the amplification plots, and used
to generate a standard curve for each aptamer with the data
analysis software supplied with the Bio-Rad iCycler. The number of
copies of each aptamer in each assay sample was determined using
the standard curve, and converted to aptamer concentration after
adjusting for dilution factor and sample volume. The concentration
of aptamer in each assay sample was plotted as a function of input
protein concentration.
Example 5
Protein Detection in Buffer using Photo-Crosslink Assay Protocol
and Array Detection
[0259] A ten point dilution series in buffer was created for
thirteen protein analytes (angiogenin, BLC, C3a, Coagulation Factor
V, Coagulation Factor XI, CTACK, Endostatin, FGF7, IGFBP-3,
Prekallikrein, PSA-ACT, TIMP-1, and tPA) starting with a 10 nM
concentration of each analyte and serially diluting to 330 fM with
half-log dilutions (dilution factor of 3.1623). Four no-protein
controls were included to give a total of fourteen samples. The
Cy3-aptamer mixture contained the thirteen aptamers to the target
proteins in the dilution series, along with fourteen control
aptamers whose target proteins were absent. Samples were processed
using the Photo-Crosslink Assay Protocol (Example 3) and quantified
with Microarray Detection as described in Example 4. The results
are set forth in FIG. 11 which shows a relative fluorescence units
(RFU) versus concentration plot for the target protein Angiogenin
in buffer.
Example 6
Protein Detection in Buffer using Affinity Assay Protocol and
Q-PCR
[0260] A ten point dilution series in buffer was created for twelve
protein analytes (angiogenin, Clq, C5b, 6 Complex, CMP-SAS,
EG-VEGF, IP-10, PAI-1, PDGF-BB, Prothrombin, E-selectin, tPA, and
vWF) starting with a 10 nM concentration of each analyte and
serially diluting to 330 fM with half-log dilutions (dilution
factor of 3.1623). Four no-protein controls were included to give a
total of fourteen samples. The Cy3-aptamer mixture contained the
twelve aptamers to the target proteins in the dilution series.
Samples were processed using the Affinity Assay Protocol (Example
2) and quantified by Q-PCR (Example 4). Primers 2175-47-F3
(5'-GAGTGTGTGACGAGTGTGGAG-3') (SEQ ID NO:1) and 2175-47-R3
(5'-TCGGTTGTGGTGACGCCCG-3') (SEQ ID NO:2) were used for
quantification of the angiogenin aptamer 2175-47 in the assay
samples. The results are set forth in FIG. 12 which shows a log
plot of the concentration of aptamer detected versus the
concentration of input protein for angiogenin.
Example 7
Protein Measurements in Test Samples Are Enabled By Aptamers with
Slow Off-Rates
[0261] Preparation of Aptamer/Primer Mixtures and Test Samples
[0262] Aptamers with a biotin Cy3 detection label (4 nM each) are
mixed with a 3.times. excess of capture probe (oligonucleotide
complementary to the 3' fixed region of the aptamer containing a
biotin tag and photocleavable element) in 1.times.SB17T. and heated
at 95.degree. C. for 4 minutes then 37.degree. C. for 13 minutes,
and diluted 1:4 in 1.times.SB17T. 55 uL of aptamer/primer mix is
added to a microtiter plate (Hybaid #AB-0407) and sealed with foil.
Test samples are prepared in a microtiter plate by mixing known
concentrations of protein analytes in SB17T and diluting serially
with SB17T.
[0263] Sample Equilibration
[0264] 55 uL of aptamer/primer mix is added to 55 uL of test sample
and incubated at 37.degree. C. for 15 minutes in a foil-sealed
microtiter plate. The final concentration of each aptamer in the
equilibration mixture is 0.5 nM. After equilibration, all
subsequent steps of this method are performed at room temperature
unless otherwise noted.
[0265] Aptamer Capture and Free Protein Removal
[0266] A DuraPore filtration plate (Millipore HV cat#MAHVN4550) is
washed once with 100 uL 1.times.SB17T by vacuum filtration, add
133.3 uL 7.5% Streptavidin-agarose resin (Pierce) is added to each
well and washed twice with 200 uL 1.times.SB17T. 100 uL of
equilibrated samples is transferred to the Durapore plate
containing the Streptavidin-agarose resin and incubated on a
thermomixer (Eppendorf) at 800 rpm for 5 minutes. The resin is
washed once with 200 uL 1.times.SB17T+100 uM biotin and once with
200 uL 1.times.SB17T.
[0267] Protein Tagging with Biotin
[0268] 100 uL of 1.2 mM NHS-PEO4-biotin in SB17T, prepared
immediately before use, is added to the resin with captured aptamer
and aptamer:protein complexes and incubated on a thermomixer at 800
rpm for 20 minutes. The resin is washed five times with 200 uL
1.times.SB17T by vacuum filtration.
[0269] Slow-Off Rate Enrichment Process & Photocleavage
[0270] The drip director is removed from underside of the DuraPore
plate and the plate is placed over a 1 mL microtiter collection
plate. The resin is washed once with 200 uL 1.times.SB17T by
centrifugation at 1000.times.g for 30 sec. 80 uL of
1.times.SB17T+10 mM dextran sulfate is added to the resin and
irradiated with a BlackRay Mercury Lamp on a thermomixer at 800 rpm
for 10 minutes. The DuraPore plate is transferred to a new 1 mL
deepwell plate and centrifuged at 1000.times.g for 30 seconds to
collect the photocleaved aptamer and protein:aptamer complexes.
[0271] Protein Capture and Free Aptamer Removal
[0272] 50 uL of MyOne-streptavidin Cl paramagnetic beads
(Invitrogen) (10 mg/mL in 1.times.SB17T) is added to a microtiter
plate. The beads are separate with a magnet for 60 seconds and the
supernatant is removed. 225 uL of photocleavage mixture is added to
the beads and mixed for 5 minutes. The beads are washed four times
with 200 uL 1.times.SB17T by separating the magnetic beads and
replacing the wash buffer. The final wash buffer is removed.
[0273] Aptamer Elution
[0274] 100 uL Sodium Phosphate Elution Buffer (10 mM
Na.sub.2HPO.sub.4, pH 11) is added to the beads and mixed for 5
minutes. 90 uL of eluate is transferred to a microtiter plate and
neutralized with 10 uL Sodium Phosphate Neutralization Buffer (10
mM NaH.sub.2PO.sub.4, pH 5).
[0275] Aptamer Hybridization to Microarrays
[0276] DNA arrays are prepared with oligonucleotide capture probes
comprised of the complementary sequence of the variable region of
each aptamer immobilized on a custom microscope slide support.
Multiple arrays (subarrays) exist on each slide, and subarrays are
physically separated by affixing a gasket (Grace) for sample
application. Arrays are pretreated with 100 uL Blocking Buffer and
incubated for 15 minutes at 65.degree. C. on a thermomixer. 30 uL
of Hybridization Buffer is added to 90 uL of neutralized aptamer
eluate in a microtiter plate, incubated at 95.degree. C. for 5
minutes in a Thermal Cycler, and cooled to 65.degree. C. at
0.1.degree. C./second. Blocking Buffer is removed from the arrays
and 110 uL of aptamer sample is added to the arrays and incubate in
a humid chamber at 65.degree. C. for 20 hours.
[0277] Array Washing
[0278] Aptamer sample is removed from the arrays and the arrays are
washed once with 200 uL of sodium phosphate Tween-20 wash buffer at
65.degree. C., with the gasket in place, and three times with 25 mL
sodium phosphate, Tween-20 wash buffer at 65.degree. C. in a pap
jar with the gasket removed. Arrays are dried with a nitrogen
gun.
[0279] Quantitate Signal On Arrays
[0280] Array slides are scanned on a TECAN LS300 Reloaded. in an
appropriate channel for Cy3 detection and Cy3 signal on each array
feature is quantified.
[0281] Results:
[0282] Apatmers specific to three different targets (bFGF, VEGF,
and Myeloperoxidase) were produced using traditional SELEX methods
and materials. A second set of aptamers specific to the same set of
targets were made using 5-position modified nucleotides and
selected for very slow off-rates for their respective targets.
Aptamers made in the traditional process had measured off rates on
the order of less than 5 minutes. Aptamers made with the modified
nucleotides and using slow off-rate enrichment process during
selection had off rates of greater than 20 minutes. Two sets of
aptamers were made for each target by the two different methods for
a total of 4 different aptamer populations for each target. The
ability of these aptamer populations to measure analyte
concentrations in test samples was evaluated as described above
over a range of target concentrations. Relative signal from the DNA
chip detection was plotted against the input target concentration.
See FIG. 13A to 13C. The response curve of the traditional aptamers
is very flat and the sensitivity of the detection is fairly low.
The sensitivity of detection of the respective targets with the
slow off-rate aptamers is excellent. The data supports the need to
use the slow-off aptamers for maximum analytic performance.
Example 8
Reproducibility Using Slow off rate Aptamers
[0283] Using the method of Example 7, one plasma sample was split
into 68 different aliquots. The assay of Example 7 was performed on
each of the 68 samples. 34 of the samples were combined and split
again. The remaining 34 samples were simply retested. In this
manner the reproducibility of the assay can be tested for within
and between assay consistency. The sample layout and detection
scheme is shown in FIG. 14. FIG. 15 shows the % CV in the
measurement of all the samples indicated in FIG. 14. The unpooled
and pooled samples have the same CV's.
Example 9
One Catch Affinity Binding Method
[0284] a) Equilibration of Aptamers with Plasma, Serum, or Whole
Blood
[0285] 30 uL of a Cy3-aptamer mixture (20 nM each aptamer) is
combined with 30 uL of an (AB).sub.2-T.sub.8-PC-primer mixture (60
nM for each primer) in SB17T and incubated at 95.degree. C. for 4
minutes and at 37.degree. C. for 13 minutes. 55 uL of the complex
biological protein mixture (plasma, serum, or whole blood), diluted
1:1000 in SB17T, is combined with 55 uL of the aptamer/primer
mixture and incubated at 37.degree. C. for 15 minutes to achieve
binding equilibrium. All following steps are performed at room
temperature unless otherwise noted.
[0286] b) Protein Tagging
[0287] 100 uL of aptamer:protein mixture is combined with 10 uL of
SB17T containing 500 uM NHS-PEO4-biotin (Pierce #21329) and
incubated for 20 minutes at 37.degree. C. Excess NHS reagent is
quenched by adding 10 uL of 200 mM TRIS buffer (pH 7.5) to the
reaction mixture and incubating for 10 minutes at 37.degree. C.
[0288] c) Protein Capture and Free Aptamer Removal
[0289] 100 uL of streptavidin resin (DynaBeads MyOne Streptavidin
Cl, Invitrogen #650-03, 10 mg/mL in SB17T) is added to a Durapore
membrane to capture aptamer/protein complexes. 100 uL of the
aptamer/protein mixture is added to the resin, mixed for 15
minutes, and vacuum filtered to remove free aptamer. The resin is
washed three times with 200 uL SB17T by vacuum filtration, and once
with 200 uL SB17T by centrifugation.
[0290] d) Complexed Aptamer Release
[0291] The resin is resuspended in 90 uL Elution Buffer (2 mM NaOH,
0.1% TWEEN-20) and mixed for 5 minutes to release aptamer from the
aptamer/protein complex. The resin is removed by centrifugation,
and the eluate containing released aptamer is collected. 80 uL
eluate is neutralized and buffered with 20 uL Neutralization Buffer
(8 mM HCl, 0.5 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 0.1% TWEEN-20). Aptamer is
detected as described in Example 4.
[0292] A number of patents, patent application publications, and
scientific publications are cited throughout and/or listed at the
end of the description. Each of these is incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety. Likewise, all publications mentioned
in an incorporated publication are incorporated by reference in
their entirety.
[0293] Examples in cited publications and limitations related
therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other
limitations of the cited publications will become apparent to those
of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study
of the drawings.
[0294] The words "comprise", "comprises", and "comprising" are to
be interpreted inclusively rather than exclusively.
Sequence CWU 1
1
2121DNAArtificialSynthetic 1gagtgtgtga cgagtgtgga g
21219DNAArtificialSynthetic 2tcggttgtgg tgacgcccg 19
* * * * *