Open AccessDevelopment of a genetically encodable FRET system using fluorescent RNA aptamers
Author(s) -
Mette D. E. Jepsen,
Steffen M. Sparvath,
Thorbjørn B. Nielsen,
Ane H. Langvad,
Guido Grossi,
Kurt V. Gothelf,
Ellen Juul Andersen
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
nature communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.559
H-Index - 365
ISSN - 2041-1723
DOI - 10.1038/s41467-017-02435-x
Subject(s) - förster resonance energy transfer , aptamer , rna , biosensor , fluorophore , biophysics , fluorescence , chemistry , computational biology , nanotechnology , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , gene , materials science , physics , quantum mechanics
Fluorescent RNA aptamers are useful as markers for tracking RNA molecules inside cells and for creating biosensor devices. Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) based on fluorescent proteins has been used to detect conformational changes, however, such FRET devices have not yet been produced using fluorescent RNA aptamers. Here we develop an RNA aptamer-based FRET (apta-FRET) system using single-stranded RNA origami scaffolds. To obtain FRET, the fluorescent aptamers Spinach and Mango are placed in close proximity on the RNA scaffolds and a new fluorophore is synthesized to increase spectral overlap. RNA devices that respond to conformational changes are developed, and finally, apta-FRET constructs are expressed in E. coli where FRET is observed, demonstrating that the apta-FRET system is genetically encodable and that the RNA nanostructures fold correctly in bacteria. We anticipate that the RNA apta-FRET system could have applications as ratiometric sensors for real-time studies in cell and synthetic biology.