A biopolymer by any other name would bind as well: a comparison of the ligand-binding pockets of nucleic acids and proteins.
Crystal structures have recently been reported for several in vitro selected aptamers that bind small molecules. A structural comparison of these aptamers with proteins that bind identical ligands reveals similar strategies for forming ligand-binding pockets.
Marshall
K A
KA
Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington 47405, USA.
Robertson
M P
MP
Ellington
A D
AD
D000241:Adenosine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
D001704:Biopolymers; D009696:Nucleic Acids; D011506:Proteins; D012313:RNA; D000241:Adenosine