title: Embracing proteins: structural themes in aptamer-protein complexes.
abstract: Understanding the structural rules that govern specific, high-affinity binding characteristic of aptamer-protein interactions is important in view of the increasing use of aptamers across many applications. From the modest number of 16 aptamer-protein structures currently available, trends are emerging. The flexible phosphodiester backbone allows folding into precise three-dimensional structures using known nucleic acid motifs as scaffolds that orient specific functional groups for target recognition. Still, completely novel motifs essential for structure and function are found in modified aptamers with diversity-enhancing side chains. Aptamers and antibodies, two classes of macromolecules used as affinity reagents with entirely different backbones and composition, recognize protein epitopes of similar size and with comparably high shape complementarity.
authors.affiliation: SomaLogic, Inc., 2945 Wilderness Place, Boulder, CO 80301, United States.
authors.forename: Amy D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Gelinas
authors.affiliation: Beryllium, 7869 NE Day Road West, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110, United States.
authors.forename: Douglas R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: SomaLogic, Inc., 2945 Wilderness Place, Boulder, CO 80301, United States. Electronic address: njanjic@somalogic.com.
authors.forename: Nebojsa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Janjic
mesh_terms: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008024:Ligands; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D059372:Nucleotide Motifs; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D008024:Ligands; D011506:Proteins