Identification of RNA Aptamer Specific to Mutant KRAS Protein

Mutations in the KRAS gene are required for early occurrence and maintenance of tumorigenesis and are the most frequently found in many types of human malignant diseases. Therefore, approaches targeting RAS function have been proposed for cancer therapy. However, no selective and specific inhibitors of KRAS have yet been developed as anticancer agents. In this study, by employing counter-systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment technique, we identified and characterized an RNA aptamer that specifically bound to mutant KRAS protein with a point mutation in codon 12 of the KRAS gene. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis, surface plasmon resonance measurements, and competitive precipitation experiments showed that the selected aptamer contained activities of specific and high-affinity binding to the mutant KRAS (K-D similar to 4.04 nM) but much less binding to the wild type (K-D similar to 227 nM). This RNA aptamer could be useful as a ligand for specific therapeutics and diagnostics against mutant KRAS-mediated cancers.