Cornell University

The State University of New York

John T Lis

Hua Shi

Zhen Qiu Huang

Li Niu

Abdullah Ozer

Harold G Craighead

Kylan Szeto

Sarah Reinholt

Michael Kotlikoff

David R Latulippe

Jacob M Tome

Bo Shui

The present invention relates to a microcolumn device for selecting nucleic acid aptamers for single and multiple target molecules, as well as a method for making the microcolumn device. The present invention also relates to a system for selecting nucleic acid aptamers for single and multiple target molecules. The present invention further relates to methods of using the microcolumn device for selecting nucleic acid aptamers for multiple target molecules. Kits that include one or more microcolumn device and/or system of the present invention are also disclosed.

Multiplexed microcolumn devices and processes for selection of nucleic acid aptamers

The present invention is directed to a method for detecting an interaction between a ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecule and a second molecule. This method involves providing a nucleic acid construct that contains a promoter sequence, a nucleotide sequence encoding the RNA molecule, and an RNA polymerase blocking site. The nucleotide sequence encoding the RNA molecule is transcribed in vitro to produce an RNA transcript corresponding to the RNA molecule. Transcription is halted by the RNA polymerase blocking site under conditions effective for the RNA transcript to remain tethered to the nucleic acid construct. The tethered RNA transcript is contacted with the second molecule and any interaction between the tethered RNA transcript and the second molecule is detecting and identified based on said contacting.

High-throughput RNA interaction assay

The present invention generally relates to microcolumn affinity chromatography devices, systems that include the microcolumn affinity chromatography devices of the present disclosure, methods of using the devices and the systems of the present disclosure, and methods of making the devices and the systems of the present disclosure. In certain embodiments, the microcolumn affinity chromatography device is suitable for conducting affinity chromatography in multiple microcolumns in parallel and/or in series.

Programmable and reconfigurable microcolumn affinity chromatography device, system, and methods of use thereof

The present invention relates to novel nucleic acid ligands or aptamers that bind to and inhibit the activation of the &#x3b1;-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate (AMPA) subtype of ionotropic glutamate receptors. Also disclosed is a novel combination of technologies, i.e., SELEX and laser pulse photolysis for the selection and screening of aptamers that inhibit receptor function and are useful therefore, in the treatment of diseases associated with excessive activation of ionotropic glutamate receptors.

Nucleic acid inhibitors of glutamate receptors

The present invention relates to a nucleic acid aptamer having a first domain that binds to a fluorescent protein. The nucleic acid aptamer forms a molecular complex whereby the aptamer binds a fluorescent protein at the first domain. A constructed DNA molecule, expression systems, and host cells containing the molecular complex are also disclosed. The invention also relates to a system containing a first DNA molecule encoding the nucleic acid aptamer of the present invention and a second DNA molecule encoding a fluorescent protein capable of being bound by the first domain. Methods of detecting a molecular target and determining location of a molecular target using the nucleic acid aptamer of the invention are also disclosed.

Functional nucleic acid ligands to fluorescent proteins

A method of identifying RNA ligands which bind to a target molecule by treating a first pool of RNA ligands that collectively bind more than one target under conditions effective to reduce the concentration or eliminate the presence of one or more predominate target-binding RNA ligands from the first pool of RNA ligands; amplifying the RNA ligands in the treated first pool, thereby forming a second pool of RNA ligands that is enriched in one or more non-predominate target-binding RNA ligands of the first pool but not the one or more predominate target-binding RNA ligands thereof; and identifying one or more predominate target-binding RNA ligands that are present in the second pool at a higher concentration than other target-binding RNA ligands. Oligonucleotides and kits which can be used in practicing the present invention are also disclosed, as are aptamers that bind to a heat shock factor protein and their use.

Exhaustive selection of RNA aptamers against complex targets

The present invention relates to a monovalent RNA aptamer that binds to Drosophila splicing factor B and a multivalent RNA aptamer that includes at least two RNA aptamer sequences linked together. Also disclosed are isolated or constructed DNA molecules which encode either a monovalent RNA aptamer or a multivalent RNA aptamer of the present invention, an engineered gene encoding a multivalent RNA aptamer of the present invention, and host cells and expression systems which contain either a heterologous DNA molecule or a heterologous gene of the present invention. Further aspects of the present invention relate to a method of expressing a multivalent RNA aptamer in a cell, a method of increasing activity of a splicing factor protein in a cell, and a method of inhibiting activity of a target molecule in a cell. A transgenic non-human organism whose somatic and germ cell lines contain an engineered gene encoding a multivalent RNA aptamer is also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Ithaca, NY, United States of America

John T Lis