Volume 64, Issue 28 e202425051
Research Article

Aptamer as a Molecular Tethering Agent Induces PrPC Aggregation and Degradation to Inhibit Melanoma Proliferation

Tiantian Xie

Tiantian Xie

Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo and Biosensing, Hunan Research Center of the Basic Discipline for Cell Signaling, College of Biology,College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, 410082 China

Both authors contributed equally to this work.

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Yibin Zhang

Yibin Zhang

Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008 China

Both authors contributed equally to this work.

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Neng Ling

Neng Ling

Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo and Biosensing, Hunan Research Center of the Basic Discipline for Cell Signaling, College of Biology,College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, 410082 China

Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Vision Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Key Technologies for Visual Pathway Reconstruction,Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China

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Yijun Yuan

Yijun Yuan

Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo and Biosensing, Hunan Research Center of the Basic Discipline for Cell Signaling, College of Biology,College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, 410082 China

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Weibin Liu

Weibin Liu

Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Vision Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Key Technologies for Visual Pathway Reconstruction,Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China

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Junxiao Guo

Junxiao Guo

Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo and Biosensing, Hunan Research Center of the Basic Discipline for Cell Signaling, College of Biology,College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, 410082 China

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Xianhua Wei

Xianhua Wei

Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo and Biosensing, Hunan Research Center of the Basic Discipline for Cell Signaling, College of Biology,College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, 410082 China

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Tianhuan Peng

Tianhuan Peng

Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo and Biosensing, Hunan Research Center of the Basic Discipline for Cell Signaling, College of Biology,College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, 410082 China

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Zhiyan Wang

Zhiyan Wang

Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo and Biosensing, Hunan Research Center of the Basic Discipline for Cell Signaling, College of Biology,College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, 410082 China

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Jing Dai

Jing Dai

Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo and Biosensing, Hunan Research Center of the Basic Discipline for Cell Signaling, College of Biology,College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, 410082 China

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Wenjing Chen

Wenjing Chen

Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo and Biosensing, Hunan Research Center of the Basic Discipline for Cell Signaling, College of Biology,College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, 410082 China

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Ming Yan

Ming Yan

Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo and Biosensing, Hunan Research Center of the Basic Discipline for Cell Signaling, College of Biology,College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, 410082 China

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Xiaoqiu Wu

Xiaoqiu Wu

Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, The Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province for Aptamers and Theranostics, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022 China

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Wencan Wu

Corresponding Author

Wencan Wu

Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Vision Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Key Technologies for Visual Pathway Reconstruction,Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

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Mao Ye

Corresponding Author

Mao Ye

Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo and Biosensing, Hunan Research Center of the Basic Discipline for Cell Signaling, College of Biology,College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, 410082 China

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

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Weihong Tan

Corresponding Author

Weihong Tan

Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo and Biosensing, Hunan Research Center of the Basic Discipline for Cell Signaling, College of Biology,College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, 410082 China

Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, The Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province for Aptamers and Theranostics, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022 China

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

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First published: 30 April 2025

Graphical Abstract

We developed a molecular tethering agent, TTe-TTe, that binds to the octapeptide repeat region of glycosylated PrPC. TTe-TTe suppresses malignant melanoma proliferation by triggering PrPC to aggregate on the cell membrane surface, followed by its degradation. This versatile platform technology opens up new avenues for targeted protein degradation in a wide range of therapeutic applications, potentially advancing the field of drug discovery.

Abstract

Melanoma, a malignant tumor originating from melanocytes, is the most aggressive and deadly form of skin cancer. Previous studies have revealed that the cellular prion protein (PrPC) is frequently overexpressed in melanoma, contributing to tumor progression. This study presents the first proof of concept evidence that nucleic acid aptamers can be used to construct a molecular tethering agent that regulates PrPC protein levels by inducing membrane-bound PrPC aggregation for antimelanoma therapy. Using a screening strategy combining cell-SELEX and cell-internalization SELEX, we obtained ssDNA aptamer, TT-1e, specifically binding to melanoma cells and tissues. We identified that the binding site of TT-1e is located at the octapeptide repeat region of glycosylated PrPC. Based on the binding characteristics of TT-1e, we engineered an aptamer-based molecular tethering agent TTe-TTe. We found that TTe-TTe induces aggregation of cell surface PrPC, promoting its internalization and facilitating its lysosomal degradation. This process resulted in the inhibition of AKT pathway activation. Importantly, in vivo studies confirmed the ability of TTe-TTe to target melanoma xenografts and suppress tumor growth through this unique mechanism. Our study presents a promising strategy for targeted melanoma therapy and introduces a paradigm-shifting approach for manipulating protein levels using aptamers as molecular tethering agents.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available in the Supporting Information of this article.

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