Methods and Applications of in Silico Aptamer Design and Modeling
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International Journal of Molecular Sciences Review Methods and Applications of In Silico Aptamer Design and Modeling Andrey A. Buglak 1,2,* , Alexey V. Samokhvalov 1 , Anatoly V. Zherdev 1 and Boris B. Dzantiev 1 1 A. N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Research Center of Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky prospect 33, 119071 Moscow, Russia; [email protected] (A.V.S.); [email protected] (A.V.Z.); [email protected] (B.B.D.) 2 Physical Faculty, St. Petersburg State University, 7/9 Universitetskaya naberezhnaya, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +7-(495)-954-27-32 Received: 14 October 2020; Accepted: 8 November 2020; Published: 10 November 2020 Abstract: Aptamers are nucleic acid analogues of antibodies with high affinity to different targets, such as cells, viruses, proteins, inorganic materials, and coenzymes. Empirical approaches allow the design of in vitro aptamers that bind particularly to a target molecule with high affinity and selectivity. Theoretical methods allow significant expansion of the possibilities of aptamer design. In this study, we review theoretical and joint theoretical-experimental studies dedicated to aptamer design and modeling. We consider aptamers with different targets, such as proteins, antibiotics, organophosphates, nucleobases, amino acids, and drugs. During nucleic acid modeling and in silico design, a full set of in silico methods can be applied, such as docking, molecular dynamics (MD), and statistical analysis. The typical modeling workflow starts with structure prediction. Then, docking of target and aptamer is performed. Next, MD simulations are performed, which allows for an evaluation of the stability of aptamer/ligand complexes and determination of the binding energies with higher accuracy. Then, aptamer/ligand interactions are analyzed, and mutations of studied aptamers made. Subsequently, the whole procedure of molecular modeling can be reiterated. Thus, the interactions between aptamers and their ligands are complex and difficult to understand using only experimental approaches. Docking and MD are irreplaceable when aptamers are studied in silico. Keywords: aptamers; in silico design; molecular modeling; docking; molecular dynamics 1. Introduction Aptamers are single-stranded nucleic acids (both DNA and RNA) with a high affinity toward target molecules. In the past few years, aptamers have been obtained for a wide range of targets, for example, cells, viruses, inorganic materials, metal ions, coenzymes, nucleobases, amino acids, antibiotics, pesticides, polypeptides, and hormones and other low-molecular-weight molecules [1–3]. Multiple studies have been performed that are dedicated to the development of biosensors functionalized with aptamers; the biosensors are based on various nanomaterials: quantum dots, metal nanoparticles (NPs), and single- and multiwalled carbon nanotubes [4–6]. The systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment, or SELEX, is an experimental method for the determination of nucleic acid aptamers that specifically bind to a target molecule with high affinity and selectivity [7]. The construction of aptamers using SELEX technology includes several rounds of selection and enrichment processes (Figure1), which are time and labor consuming and Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, 8420; doi:10.3390/ijms21228420 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, 8420 2 of 25 have a low cost-efficiency rate and output. SELEX may be combined with high-throughput sequencers, a process that is usually called HT-SELEX, or HTS [8,9]. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 26 Figure 1. SchematicSchematic representation representation of SELEX aptamer selection and enrichment cycle. Currently, there are severalseveral varietiesvarieties ofof SELEXSELEX methodologiesmethodologies [[10].10]. Two Two major steps exist in aptamer design selection and optimization. In In the first first step, several polynucleotides with probable binding affinity affinity toward a target are screened by using thethe SELEXSELEX methodmethod andand thenthen selected.selected. In the second step, aptamers with detected high affinity affinity are shortened, modified,modified, and stabilized. Both DNA and RNA aptamers can be designed. The usage of noncanonical nucleotides is possible [[11].11]. An alternative strategy to SELEX that has been proposed in the past decade and a half is to apply computational computational methods methods of of bioinformatics, bioinformatics, namely, namely, docking docking and and molecular molecular dynamics dynamics (MD), (MD), to designto design aptamers aptamers for for various various purp purposes.oses. Of Of course, course, the the in in silico silico approach approach can can be be used used along with SELEX and HTSHTS toto raiseraise thethe eefficacyfficacy of of research. research. Some Some in in silico silico tools tools are are specialized specialized for for the the analysis analysis of ofHTS HTS experimental experimental data data [12]. [12]. Rapid Rapid expansion expansion and integrationand integration of next-generation of next-generation sequencing sequencing (NGS) (NGS)opens theopens possibility the possibility for conducting for conducting new high-throughput new high-throughput experiments experiments and developing and developing new screening new screeningstrategies [strategies13]. [13]. Hamada [14[14]] highlighted highlighted several several methods methods of oligonucleotide of oligonucleotide aptamer aptamer design: scalabledesign: clustering scalable clusteringfor RNA aptamers for RNA and aptamers motif-finding and motif-finding methods as wellmeth asods aptamer as well optimization as aptamer methods.optimization An up-to-date methods. Anreview up-to-date of aptamer review design of aptamer software design is summarized software is in summarized the paper by in Emamithe paper et al.by[ 15Emami]. Additionally, et al. [15]. 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(QM/MM) The quantitative studies [17].structure–activity The quantitative relationship structure–activity (QSAR) methodrelationsh canip be(QSAR) used alongmethod with can other be used molecular along with modeling other molecularmethods for modeling aptamer methods design [18 for]. Thus,aptame ar full design set of [18]. molecular Thus, a modeling full set of in molecular silico tools modeling can be exploited in silico toolsfor aptamer can be design.exploited Moreover, for aptame mathematicalr design. Moreover, modeling mathematical of ligand/aptamer modeling interaction of ligand/aptamer kinetics is interactionfeasible [19 ,kinetics20]. is feasible [19,20]. A riboswitch is a noncoding RNA (ncRNA) that performs the function of of genetic genetic “switching” “switching” and regulates gene expression in response to a spec specificific molecular target. Riboswitches are regulatory RNA components, which are usually located in the 5′-untranslated region of certain mRNAs and control gene expression during transcription or translation. These components consist of a sensor domain and a neighboring actuator domain. The sensor domain is an aptamer that specifically binds to a ligand, and the actuator domain includes an intrinsic terminator or a ribosomal binding site for Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, 8420 3 of 25 RNA components, which are usually located in the 50-untranslated region of certain mRNAs and control gene expression during transcription or translation. These components consist of a sensor domainInt. J. Mol. and Sci. 2020 a neighboring, 21, x FOR PEER actuator REVIEW domain. The sensor domain is an aptamer that specifically binds3 of 26 to a ligand, and the actuator domain includes an intrinsic terminator or a ribosomal binding site for transcriptionaltranscriptional or or translational translational regulation, regulation, respectively. respectively. A A large large part part of of the the research research dedicated dedicated to to the the designdesign of of oligonucleotide oligonucleotide aptamers aptamers belongs belongs to to the the development development of of RNA RNA riboswitches riboswitches [ 21[21–25].–25]. InIn silico silico tools tools provide provide a a wide wide range range of of methods methods to to a a researcher. researcher. It It is is possible possible to to design design aptamers aptamers usingusing simplesimple compoundscompounds asas targetstargets as as well well as as complex complex biopolymers, biopolymers, such such as as proteins. proteins. 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