Study on the Modification and Minding Mechanism of Bongkrekic Acid Aptamers for Food Safety

Bongkrekic acid is a lethal mitochondrial toxin produced by Burkholderia gladioli pathovar cocovenenans, posing severe threats to food safety due to their high stability and the lack of effective antidotes. Developing specific, high-affinity recognition elements is crucial to overcoming the limitations of current BA detection methods in food matrices, and thereby safeguarding food safety and public health. In this study, we report for the first time the selection and remodelling of a DNA aptamer with high affinity for BA, which could be used as a promising recognition tool for sensitive BA detection in food. Integrating isothermal titration calorimetry, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the binding of BA to F3-1 follows an induced-fit mechanism. This study is the first to report a DNA aptamer with nanomolar affinity for BA, clarify its underlying binding mechanism, and provide a reliable recognition element for sensitive and specific BA detection in food samples.