From oligonucleotide shapes to genomic SELEX: Novel biological regulatory loops

摘要

The SELEX method and oligonucleotide combinatorial chemistry discovery process yields high- affinity/high-specificity ligands for virtually any molecular target. Typically, the enormous starting libraries used in the SELEX process contain 10~14-10~15 sequences. We now ask if the smaller sequences, complexity of extant organisms, and evo- lutionary history provide useful interactions between oligo- nucleotides and at least some unexpected targets. That is, do organisms contain a robust "linkage map" between their oligonucleotides and proteins and/or small molecules that enriches life?