适配体(aptamer)是指利用指数富集的配体系统进化(SELEX)技术,从人工合成的寡核苷酸文库中筛选获得的能够与靶分子特异结合的短单链DNA和RNA分子。筛选得到的适配体可以与DNA,RNA,蛋白质或其它靶分子结合,影响这些靶分子的性质,从而起到改变与靶分子相关的生物学功能的效果。而且研究发现,适配体在与靶分子相互作用时,不仅序列,它们所形成的三维结构也尤其重要。同时,适配体在生物医药研究方面显示出广阔的应用前景。介绍了适配体的发展历程,以及一些典型适配体的生物学功效。提出了RNA适配体三维结构在与靶分子进行相互作用时可能发挥重要作用,以期为RNA适配体的筛选提供理论思考。
Aptamers are short single-stranded DNA and RNA molecules that can bind the targets. They are selected out of a large artificial combinatorial oligonucleotide library through an in vitro evolution process tremed SELEX ( systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment). Aptamers may bind DNA, RNA, protein or other target molecules. They can affect their properties and alter the biological function relevant to target molecules. Moreover the three dimensional structure of aptamers can play important function when they interact with the target molecules. At the same time, the aptamers bring a bright prospect in biological medicine research. The article introduced the developmental course of aptamers and the biological efficacies of some typical aptamers. Furthermore we presume the three dimensional structure of RNA aptamers plays the vital role when they interact with the target molecules. This can provide the theory thinking for RNA aptamers screening.