Abstract
The use of molecular beacons is a versatile method to detect RNAs. Typically, a single-stranded region of RNA is selected as a target sequence for molecular beacons. Therefore, the detection of highly structured short RNAs, such as tRNAs, seems to be difficult. In this study, as an example of highly structured target RNA, we used human tRNALys3, which is known to have functions in protein synthesis and the reverse transcription of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1. No long single-stranded region more than 8 nt is present in this tRNA, which is much shorter than the standard target length of molecular beacons (∼20 nt). This study showed that sensitive detection of highly structured RNAs using molecular beacons was much more difficult than that of unstructured or less structured RNAs. However, efficient detection of the tRNALys3 was achieved by selecting the best target region, i.e., the region around the D arm, probably due to the ease of unfolding of this arm. Accordingly, our findings suggested that molecular beacons may have applications in the detection of highly structured RNAs related to various biological functions and diseases.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2971-2976 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Analytical Methods |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue number | 20 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 28 2017 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Analytical Chemistry
- Chemical Engineering(all)
- Engineering(all)
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Detection of small, highly structured RNAs using molecular beacons. / Li, J.; Xu, C.; Shimada, N.; Miyoshi, Y.; Watanabe, Kazunori; Cong, W.; Ohtsuki, Takashi.
In: Analytical Methods, Vol. 9, No. 20, 28.05.2017, p. 2971-2976.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Detection of small, highly structured RNAs using molecular beacons
AU - Li, J.
AU - Xu, C.
AU - Shimada, N.
AU - Miyoshi, Y.
AU - Watanabe, Kazunori
AU - Cong, W.
AU - Ohtsuki, Takashi
PY - 2017/5/28
Y1 - 2017/5/28
N2 - The use of molecular beacons is a versatile method to detect RNAs. Typically, a single-stranded region of RNA is selected as a target sequence for molecular beacons. Therefore, the detection of highly structured short RNAs, such as tRNAs, seems to be difficult. In this study, as an example of highly structured target RNA, we used human tRNALys3, which is known to have functions in protein synthesis and the reverse transcription of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1. No long single-stranded region more than 8 nt is present in this tRNA, which is much shorter than the standard target length of molecular beacons (∼20 nt). This study showed that sensitive detection of highly structured RNAs using molecular beacons was much more difficult than that of unstructured or less structured RNAs. However, efficient detection of the tRNALys3 was achieved by selecting the best target region, i.e., the region around the D arm, probably due to the ease of unfolding of this arm. Accordingly, our findings suggested that molecular beacons may have applications in the detection of highly structured RNAs related to various biological functions and diseases.
AB - The use of molecular beacons is a versatile method to detect RNAs. Typically, a single-stranded region of RNA is selected as a target sequence for molecular beacons. Therefore, the detection of highly structured short RNAs, such as tRNAs, seems to be difficult. In this study, as an example of highly structured target RNA, we used human tRNALys3, which is known to have functions in protein synthesis and the reverse transcription of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1. No long single-stranded region more than 8 nt is present in this tRNA, which is much shorter than the standard target length of molecular beacons (∼20 nt). This study showed that sensitive detection of highly structured RNAs using molecular beacons was much more difficult than that of unstructured or less structured RNAs. However, efficient detection of the tRNALys3 was achieved by selecting the best target region, i.e., the region around the D arm, probably due to the ease of unfolding of this arm. Accordingly, our findings suggested that molecular beacons may have applications in the detection of highly structured RNAs related to various biological functions and diseases.
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U2 - 10.1039/c7ay00341b
DO - 10.1039/c7ay00341b
M3 - Article
VL - 9
SP - 2971
EP - 2976
JO - Analytical Methods
JF - Analytical Methods
SN - 1759-9660
IS - 20
ER -