RNA Aptamer Corn (sodium)

RNA Aptamer Corn (sodium) is a 28-nt-long aptamer that is substantially shorter than Spinach and Spinach2 and exhibits bright red fluorescence upon binding DFHO (a soluble analog of the intrinsic fluorophore of red fluorescent protein), RNA Aptamer Corn (sodium) can be used to visualize RNA expression or localization in live cells which have been soaked with chromophores. The Corn-DFHO does not become appreciably cytotoxic when illuminated. And most importantly, Corn-DFHO exhibits markedly increased photostability compared to other aptamer-chromophore complexes both in vitro and in vivo. (36 nt Corn construct: 5'-GGCGCGAGGAAGGAGGUCUGAGGAGGUCACUGCGCC-3'; A 36-nt RNA construct, comprised of the 28-nt minimal Corn sequence extended proximally with a 4 base-pair stem.)