Title:G-quadruplex DNA Aptamers and their Ligands: Structure, Function and Application
VOLUME: 18 ISSUE: 14
Author(s):W. O. Tucker, K. T. Shum and J. A. Tanner
Affiliation:Department of Biochemistry, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Rd, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China.
Keywords: G-quadruplex, aptamer, thrombin, sclerostin, G-quartet, G4 tetrad, SELEX, deoxyribozyme, fibrinogen, fluorescent resonance.
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.