title: Regulating eukaryotic gene expression with aptamers.
abstract: Aptamers are RNA or DNA oligonucleotides identified within a randomly synthesized library, through an in vitro selection procedure. The selected candidates display a pre-determined property of interest with respect to a given target. Successful selection has been carried out against targets ranging from small (amino acids, antibiotics) to macro-molecules (proteins, nucleic acids). They generally show an affinity in the nanomolar range and a high specificity of target recognition. Interestingly, aptamers selected against purified targets in the test tube retain their properties within cells. RNA aptamers can be generated in situ from an appropriate DNA construct or delivered as nuclease-resistant oligonucleotide analogues. For example, aptamers recognizing RNA structure through loop-loop interactions modulate the trans-activation of in vitro transcription mediated by the TAR RNA element of human immunodeficiency virus type 1. Consequently, they constitute both exquisite tools for functional genomics analysis and promising prototypes of therapeutic agents. Natural aptameric motifs have been identified within mRNA sequences, which upon binding to a metabolite control the expression of the encoded gene, which is generally involved in the biosynthesis of this particular metabolite.
authors.affiliation: European Institute of Chemistry and Biology, INSERM U386, Université Victor Segalen, Bordeaux, France. jean-jacques.toulme@bordeaux.inserm.fr
authors.forename: Jean-Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Toulmé
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Primo
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boucard
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015723:Gene Library; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D016679:Genome, Viral; D016325:HIV Long Terminal Repeat / Q000235:genetics; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics; D007700:Kinetics; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry*; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000737:chemistry; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance
chemical_list: D009841:Oligonucleotides; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D010455:Peptides; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA