Title of Submission
Measuring Aptamer Affinity with Kinexa
Degree Program
Biomolecular Sciences, PhD
Major Advisor Name
Daniel Fologea
Type of Submission
Scholarly Poster
Abstract
Aptamers are nucleic acid or peptide molecules selected to have a high affinity and specificity for their substrates, very often in the sub-nanomolar range. Consequently, precise and reliable determination of their binding constant to the targets using techniques traditionally based on real-time monitoring is extremely challenging. To alleviate these roadblocks, we investigated the usefulness of the Kinetics Exclusion Assay (KinExA) technology to assess the equilibrium when high-affinity aptamers are employed. Although this technology was specifically developed for characterization of antibody-antigen interactions down to the femtomolar range, we adapted it for routine measurements of interactions that employ DNA aptamers.
Funding Information
Biomolecular Sciences Graduate Programs, NSF Career grant 1554166, Idaho State Board of Education grant IF18-005