title: G-quadruplex DNA aptamers and their ligands: structure, function and application.
abstract: Highly specific and tight-binding nucleic acid aptamers have been selected against a variety of molecular targets for over 20 years. A significant proportion of these oligonucleotides display G-quadruplex structures, particularly for DNA aptamers, that enable molecular recognition of their ligands. G-quadruplex structures couple a common scaffold to varying loop motifs that act in target recognition. Here, we review DNA G-quadruplex aptamers and their ligands from a structural and functional perspective. We compare the diversity of DNA G-quadruplex aptamers selected against multiple ligand targets, and consider structure with a particular focus on dissecting the thrombin binding aptamer - thrombin interaction. Therapeutic and analytical applications of DNA G-quadruplex aptamers are also discussed. Understanding DNA G-quadruplex aptamers carries implications not only for therapeutics and diagnostics, but also in the natural biochemistry of guanine-rich nucleic acids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: W O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Shum
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Tanner
mesh_terms: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D054856:G-Quadruplexes; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D013917:Thrombin / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D008024:Ligands; C081676:thrombin aptamer; D004247:DNA; D013917:Thrombin