Aptamer: Difference between revisions
From Eterna Wiki
No edit summary |
ElNando888 (talk | contribs) mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
<p | <p>An aptamer is an nucleic acid that binds a target molecule.</p> | ||
<p> </p> | <p> </p> | ||
<h2>Comparison to Antibodies</h2> | <h2>Comparison to Antibodies</h2> | ||
<p> | <p>[[File:Aptamer_1FMN.jpg|thumb]]Like antibodies, RNA aptamers can be extremely specific to a target and are capable of discriminating between closely related molecules. RNA aptamers and antibodies can be generated to bind a similarly diverse array of targets. Antibodies, however, are composed of protein and must be produced by the immune cells of a living organism. Novel aptamers can be selected quicky in vitro and amplified by PCR.</p> | ||
<p> </p> | <p> </p> | ||
<h2>Selection of Aptamers</h2> | <h2>Selection of Aptamers</h2> | ||
<p> | <p>[[File:SelexWEB.jpg|thumb]]RNA aptamers are generated by selection. The selection process begins with a large library of random sequences and removes RNAs that do not bind the target or bind nonspecifically. The selected RNAs are isolated, reverse-transcribed, amplified, and the process is repeated.</p> | ||
Revision as of 10:16, 16 April 2013
An aptamer is an nucleic acid that binds a target molecule.
Comparison to Antibodies
Like antibodies, RNA aptamers can be extremely specific to a target and are capable of discriminating between closely related molecules. RNA aptamers and antibodies can be generated to bind a similarly diverse array of targets. Antibodies, however, are composed of protein and must be produced by the immune cells of a living organism. Novel aptamers can be selected quicky in vitro and amplified by PCR.
Selection of Aptamers
RNA aptamers are generated by selection. The selection process begins with a large library of random sequences and removes RNAs that do not bind the target or bind nonspecifically. The selected RNAs are isolated, reverse-transcribed, amplified, and the process is repeated.
