Aptamers as potential nucleic acid pharmaceuticals.
In vitro selection is a technique for the isolation of nucleic acid ligands that can bind to proteins with high affinity and specificity, and has potential applications in the development of new pharmaceuticals. This review summarizes the protein targets that have successfully elicited nucleic acid binding species (also known as "aptamers") and explores examples of how they might be developed for clinical use. In particular, the use of aptamers for the alleviation of blood clotting and the treatment of AIDS are considered.
Ellington
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Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington 47405, USA.
Conrad
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D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D015195:Drug Design; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D015757:Genes, rev; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry; D013917:Thrombin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D009841:Oligonucleotides; D012367:RNA, Viral; D013917:Thrombin