A study published in Nature Communications showcases how Depixus’ scalable single molecule technology offers detailed insights into RNA-ligand interactions, aiding the development of new therapeutics. Using magnetic force spectroscopy (MFS), Depixus’ platform is the first of its kind to analyze dynamic biomolecular interactions in real-time across thousands of individual molecules simultaneously.
Led by Dr. John “Jay” Schneekloth, Jr. at the National Cancer Institute, the study utilized Depixus’ MFS platform to investigate interactions between the Bacillus subtilis (Bsu) PreQ1 riboswitch and two ligands: its natural counterpart, PreQ1, and a synthetic molecule, Compound 4. Riboswitches are RNA sequences in bacterial mRNAs that regulate metabolic pathways, making them promising targets for novel antibacterial drugs.
The MFS platform allowed precise measurement of how these ligands affected the riboswitch’s RNA structure, revealing distinct modes of action for each—a distinction that bulk measurement techniques would have missed.
Jimmy Ouellet, Chief Scientist at Depixus, emphasized the significance of the study, stating, “Our ability to independently analyze individual biomolecular interactions in real-time provides crucial insights into distinct mechanisms of action. Our large-scale MFS platform offers a unique view of biology, enabling a deeper understanding of binding kinetics and the mechanistic effects of compounds on their targets.”
Depixus’ platform promises to deliver crucial data on dynamic molecular interactions, potentially accelerating the development of more effective therapies.
