Use of RNA aptamers for the modulation of cancer cell signaling

Methods Mol Biol. 2009:542:363-77. doi: 10.1007/978-1-59745-561-9_20.

Abstract

Aptamers are in vitro evolved molecules that bind to target proteins with high affinity and specificity by adapting three-dimensional structures upon binding. Because cancer cells exhibit the activation of signaling pathways that are not usually activated in normal cells, RNA aptamers against such a cancer cell-specific signal can be useful lead molecules for cancer gene therapy. The Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway plays important roles in a critical initiating event in the formation of various human cancers. Because mutations in beta-catenin have been found to be responsible for human tumorigenesis, beta-catenin is the molecular target for effective anticancer therapies. Here, we describe the selection of RNA aptamers against beta-catenin/T-Cell Factor (TCF) proteins and their intracellular expression as intramers. The RNA aptamers acted as central inhibitory players for multiple oncogenic functions of beta-catenin in colon cancer cells. These data provide the proof-of-principle for the use of RNA aptamers for an effective anticancer gene therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide / metabolism*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Gene Library
  • Glutathione Transferase / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Mice
  • Molecular Biology / methods*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • SELEX Aptamer Technique
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Transfection
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Aptamers, Nucleotide
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Wnt Proteins
  • beta Catenin
  • Glutathione Transferase