Early detection helps to increase the survival rate in cancer patients. One way to achieve this is the detection and analysis of molecular signatures or biomarkers that have been correlated to cancer development and prognosis. Along this line, there is a need for the development of new technologies for the molecular analysis of various cancer markers. Such spirit is reflected in an RFA (RFA-CA-05-002) requesting applications on developing new """"""""detection technologies and sensors of cancer and the structures and molecules important in its development and diagnosis,"""""""" among other things. In response to this RFA, we propose this feasibility study of a new platform technology that can be used for the rapid construction of fluorescent sensors for glycoproteins. We focus on glycoproteins because numerous such proteins have been implicated in cancer development. This method is based upon (1) the power of systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment method (SELEX) in search of optimal oligonucleotide aptamers that can afford high affinity and specificity recognition of the target analytes, (2) the unique ability of boronic acids to recognize diol structures present on the saccharide part of glycoproteins, (3) our own development of several fluorescent boronic acid compounds that show very significant fluorescence intensity changes (17- to 200-fold) upon saccharide or glycoprotein binding. We hope to build synergy between the SELEX approach and the unique recognition of glycoprotein by boronic acids in making DNA aptamer-based fluorescent sensors that (1) have high affinity and specificity for the target glycoprotein and (2) exhibit very significant fluorescence intensity changes upon binding. Specifically, the project intends to develop a method to prepare DNA aptamers modified with our fluorescent boronic acid reporter compounds.
The specific aims of the projects include (1) the synthesis of fluorescent boronic acid compounds that show great fluorescence changes upon binding to saccharides, (2) incorporation of the fluorescent boronic moieties into nucleotides, 3) using the SELEX approach for the selection of sensors with optimal specificity and affinity, 4) validation of the sensor binding with glycoproteins in solution. For this feasibility study (R21), we have selected prostate-specific antigen (PSA) as our model glycoprotein because of its importance in cancer diagnosis and the fact that glycosylation variations distinguish between physiological and pathological PSA isoforms. Such fluorescent sensors, if developed, offer the advantage of rapid and sensitive detection, the potential for high throughput screening, and low cost. Furthermore, the same technology, once developed, can also be used for the construction of fluorescent sensors for other cancer-related glycoproteins.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
3R21CA113917-01S1
Application #
7114665
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZCA1)
Program Officer
Ogunbiyi, Peter
Project Start
2005-07-01
Project End
2007-06-30
Budget Start
2005-07-01
Budget End
2006-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$39,285
Indirect Cost
Name
Georgia State University
Department
Chemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
837322494
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30302
Craig, Sandra (2012) Synthesis and evaluation of aryl boronic acids as fluorescent artificial receptors for biological carbohydrates. Bioorg Chem 40:137-42
Jin, Shan; Cheng, Yunfeng; Reid, Suazette et al. (2010) Carbohydrate recognition by boronolectins, small molecules, and lectins. Med Res Rev 30:171-257
Jin, Shan; Zhu, Chunyuan; Cheng, Yunfeng et al. (2010) Synthesis and carbohydrate binding studies of fluorescent alpha-amidoboronic acids and the corresponding bisboronic acids. Bioorg Med Chem 18:1449-55
Du, Lupei; Ni, Nanting; Li, Minyong et al. (2010) A Fluorescent Hydrogen Peroxide Probe Based on a 'Click' Modified Coumarin Fluorophore. Tetrahedron Lett 51:1152-1154
Yang, Xiaochuan; Dai, Chaofeng; Molina, Angie Dayan Calderon et al. (2010) Boronic acid-modified DNA that changes fluorescent properties upon carbohydrate binding. Chem Commun (Camb) 46:1073-5
Chen, Guojun; Ni, Nanting; Wang, Binghe et al. (2010) Fibrinogen nanofibril growth and self-assembly on Au (1,1,1) surface in the absence of thrombin. Chemphyschem 11:565-8
Jin, Shan; Choudhary, Gaurav; Cheng, Yunfeng et al. (2009) Fluoride protects boronic acids in the copper(I)-mediated click reaction. Chem Commun (Camb) :5251-3
Jin, Shan; Zhu, Chunyuan; Li, Minyong et al. (2009) Identification of the first fluorescent alpha-amidoboronic acids that change fluorescent properties upon sugar binding. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 19:1596-9
Li, Minyong; Lin, Na; Huang, Zhen et al. (2008) Selecting aptamers for a glycoprotein through the incorporation of the boronic acid moiety. J Am Chem Soc 130:12636-8
Li, Minyong; Ni, Nanting; Wang, Binghe et al. (2008) Modeling the excitation wavelengths (lambda(ex)) of boronic acids. J Mol Model 14:441-9

Showing the most recent 10 out of 20 publications