Recent Progress in Nucleic Acid Aptamer-Based Biosensors and Bioassays 英文参考文献.docVIP

Sensors 2008, 8, 7050-7084; DOI: 10.3390/s8117050 OPEN ACCESS sensors ISSN 1424-8220 /journal/sensors Review Recent Progress in Nucleic Acid Aptamer-Based Biosensors and Bioassays Wendy Mok 1 and Yingfu Li 1,2,* 1 Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 3Z5, Canada; E-mail: mokwk@mcmaster.ca 2 Department of Chemistry, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4M1, Canada * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-mail: liying@mcmaster.ca; Tel. +1-905-525-9140; Ext. 22462 Received: 4 September 2008; in revised form: 25 October 2008 / Accepted: 30 October 2008 / Published: 7 November 2008 Abstract: As the key constituents of the genetic code, the importance of nucleic acids to life has long been appreciated. Despite being composed of only four structurally similar nucleotides, single-stranded nucleic acids, as in single-stranded DNAs and RNAs, can fold into distinct three-dimensional shapes due to specific intramolecular interactions and carry out functions beyond serving as templates for protein synthesis. These functional nucleic acids (FNAs) can catalyze chemical reactions, regulate gene expression, and recognize target molecules. Aptamers, whose name is derived from the Latin word aptus meaning “to fit”, are oligonucleotides that can bind their target ligands with high affinity and specificity. Since aptamers exist in nature but can also be artificially isolated from pools of random nucleic acids through a process called in vitro selection, they can potentially bind a diverse array of compounds. In this review, we will discuss the research that is being done to develop aptamers against various biomolecules, the progress in engineering biosensors by coupling aptamers to signal transducers, and the prospect of employing these sensors for a range of chemical and biological applications.