Design of a ribonucleopeptide biosensor.

Ribonucleopeptide receptors for ATP have been designed by using a structure-based design and in vitro selection method. The ATP binding ribonucleopeptide receptors revealed submillimolar affinity to ATP and discriminate ATP against other ribonucleotides. In this research, we have developed a simple strategy to convert the ATP-binding ribonucleopeptide receptor into a ribonucleopeptide sensor by introducing a fluorophore in the peptide subunit. Fluorophore labeled ribonucleopeptide complex showed a large change in the fluorescence intensity upon addition of ATP.