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[20] In vitro selection of nucleic acid aptamers that bind proteins

1996; Academic Press; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0076-6879(96)67022-0

1557-7988

Richard C. Conrad, Lori Giver, Yu Tian, Andrew D. Ellington,

DNA and Nucleic Acid Chemistry

Publisher Summary Nucleic acid sequences can fold into a huge variety of shapes. Some of these shapes can form complexes, with chemically complementary compounds. The development of more sophisticated in vitro selection methods has made possible the isolation of nucleic acid-binding species (aptamers) that can tightly and specifically interact with a variety of proteins and small molecules. Specifically, in vitro selection has been used to probe interactions between nucleic acids and proteins that normally bind nucleic acids. Subsequently, in vitro selection has been used both to define natural nucleic acid-binding sites for proteins and to identify novel high-affinity sites for these proteins. In vitro selection experiments have not only increased the understanding of the biology of nucleic acid-binding proteins, but have also identified aptamers that can potentially act as therapeutically useful “decoys.” Surprisingly, in vitro selection can also be used to isolate aptamers that can specifically interact, with proteins that are not normally thought to bind nucleic acids.