Oligonucleotides are short, single strands of synthetic DNA or RNA. Although they are small, these molecules play an important role in molecular and synthetic biology applications. One type of oligonucleotide—aptamers—can selectively bind to specific targets such as proteins, peptides, carbohydrates, viruses, toxins, metal ions and even live cells. As they are similar to antibodies, they have a variety of uses in the fields of biosensors, therapeutics, and diagnostics. However, compared to antibodies, aptamers do not induce an immune reaction in our bodies, and are easy to synthesize and modify. Moreover, an aptamer’s three-dimensional folding structure allows it to bind to a wider range of targets.
Click here for original story, Scientists develop novel computational model for aptamer generation, with wide applications
Source: Phys.org