Aptamer Handbook: Functional Oligonucleotides and their Applications

In this book, leading scientists from academia as well as biotech and pharma companies introduce the revolutionary concept of designing RNA and DNA oligonucleotides with novel functions by in vitro selection. These functions comprise high affinity binding (aptamers), catalytic activity (ribozymes and deoxyribozymes) or combinations of binding and catalytic properties (aptazymes).

Basic concepts and technologies describing in detail how these functional oligonucleotides can be identified are presented. Numerous examples demonstrate the versatility of in vitro selected oligonucleotides. Special emphasis has been put on a section that shows the broad applicability of aptamers, e. g. in target validation, for analytics, or as new therapeutics. This first overview in the field is of prime interest for a broad audience of scientists both in academia and in industry who wish to expand their knowledge on the potential of new oligonucleotide functions and their applications.

Part 1: History and Theoretical Background.
1 In Vitro Selection of Functional Oligonucleotides and the Origins of Biochemical Activity
2 Mathematical Models on RNA Evolution, Simulations In Silico, and Concepts for In Vitro Selection
3 Fitness Landscapes, Error Thresholds, and Cofactors in Aptamer Evolution

Part 2: In Vitro Selection of Target-binding Oligonucleotides
4 Aptamers to Small Molecules
5 Aptamers to Antibiotics
6 Aptamers to Proteins
7 Aptamers to Nucleic Acid Structures
8 Riboswitches: Natural Metabolite-binding RNAs Controlling Gene Expression

Part 3: In Vitro Selection of Short, Catalytically Active Oligonucleotides
9 Catalytically Active RNA Molecules: Tools in Organic Chemistry
10 Deoxyribozymes: Catalytically Active DNA Molecules
11 In Vivo and In Vitro Target Validation with Nucleic Acid Aptamers as Pharmacological Probes
12 Intramers for Protein Function Analysis and Drug Discovery
13 Aptazymes: Allosteric Ribozymes and Deoxyribozymes as Biosensors
14 Conversion of Aptamers into Small-Molecule Lead Compounds
15 Aptamers as Ligands for Affinity Chromatography and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications
16 Aptamers for In Vivo Imaging
17 Properties of Therapeutic Aptamers
18 Spiegelmers for Therapeutic Applications – Use of Chiral Principles in Evolutionary Selection Techniques
19 Applications in the Clinic: The Anti-VEGF Aptamer
Epilogue A Personal Perspecitve: Aptamers after 15 Years
Index.