GP120 RNA Aptamer: A Negative Control

Establishing the gp120 RNA Aptamer as a Negative Control in BAFF Receptor Protein Binding Affinity Assays

Presenter: Selena Leu

Presenter Status: Undergraduate student

Academic Year: 20-21

Semester: Spring

Faculty Mentor: Monica Lares

Department: Chemistry

Screenshot URL: https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1zp07rSFFfOjPjC19AQjnGNU6vRqFMf0s

Abstract:
Increased B cell activating factor (BAFF) receptor protein is over expressed in non-Hodgkin Lymphoma patients, which has prompted investigation by scientists. The 2013 article, Dual function BAFF receptor aptamers inhibit ligand-induced proliferation and deliver siRNAs to NHL cells, by Zhou et al. uses the gp120 RNA aptamer as a negative control in binding affinity assays, and claim it shows no binding to the BAFF receptor protein of B cells. The BAFF receptor protein is a transmembrane protein that spans our B cells, and the exterior portions shape is responsible for the specific binding between protein and the BAFF RNA aptamer. We want to establish the gp120 RNA aptamer to test it’s binding affinity to the BAFF receptor protein, because this may establish it as a suitable negative control for future binding affinity experiments to be conducted by the Lares Research group. The amount of DNA by Nanodrop after polymerase chain reactions are 25,900ng, 30,510ng, and 52,250ng. Agarose gels clearly show isolation of DNA when exposed to UV-light.