Final answer:
CATCHER multisubunit tethers refer to a component of the Tethering technique used in RNA research to discover small molecules that bind to RNA with high affinity. This is executed by covalently binding molecules to RNA with thiol modifications, which are then screened to find effective binders.
Step-by-step explanation:
CATCHER multisubunit tethers are a strategic part of a scientific technique known as Tethering, which is utilized to discover small molecule ligands that bind to RNAs with high affinity and specificity. The technique involves covalently binding lead molecules to the target RNA, facilitated by the introduction of a thiol group near the site of interest on the RNA. This thiol group can be introduced using thiol-bearing nucleoside analogs. After the modification, a library of disulfide-containing small molecules is screened to identify those that bond with the modified RNA. The distinctive feature of this approach is its ability to maintain high local concentrations of these small molecules, which boosts the likelihood of interacting with the target RNA, even if the initial binding interactions are weak.
For instance, a screen for molecules that could bind to a precursor of miRNA, specifically miR21, was conducted using this method. Among the 30 molecules tested, a benzotriazole-containing compound exhibited significant adduct formation and selectively bound to one type of the RNA targets. This highlights the viability of Tethering as a tool for RNA-targeted therapeutic lead discovery by identifying compounds with potent binding capabilities.