ISSN:
1662-0356
Source:
Scientific.Net: Materials Science & Technology / Trans Tech Publications Archiv 1984-2008
Topics:
Natural Sciences in General
,
Technology
Notes:
Aptamers are DNA or RNA single strands that have been selected from random poolsbased on their ability to bind ligands. Like antibodies, aptamers are highly specific to their targets,and thus have many potential uses in biomedicine and biotechnology. We report here on theconstruction of a protein-binding molecular device based on a DNA aptamer, which can beinstructed to hold or release the human blood-clotting factor, α-thrombin, depending on an operatorDNA sequence addressing it. In the operation of this DNA nanodevice, the thrombin-binding DNAaptamer is switched between a binding and a non-binding form. This is achieved by sequentiallyhybridizing and removing a DNA single strand to the protein binding region of the aptamer. Thisprinciple of operation is limited as the switching sequence is determined by the protein-bindingsequence. To overcome this limitation we introduce a DNA signal translation device that allows theoperation of aptamers with arbitrary sequences. The function of the translator is based on branchmigration and the action of the endonuclease FokI. The modular design of the translator facilitatesthe adaptation of the device to various input or output sequences
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://www.tib-hannover.de/fulltexts/2011/0528/01/42/transtech_doi~10.4028%252Fwww.scientific.net%252FAST.53.116.pdf
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