Functional Aptamers and Aptazymes in Biotechnology,Diagnostics,and Therapy

摘要

Aptamers are single-stranded nucleic acid molecules that possess properties comparable to those of protein monoclonal antibodies,and thus are clear alternatives to long established antibody-based diagnostic or biotechnological products for research,diagnostics,and therapy.This class of functional nucleic acids can fold into complex three-dimensional shapes,forming binding pockets and clefts for the specific recognition and tight binding of any given molecular target,from metal ions and small chemicals to large proteins and higher order protein complexes,whole cells,viruses,or parasites.