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Catalytically Active Nucleic Acids pp 107–119Cite as

Aptazymes: Expanding the Specificity of Natural Catalytic Nucleic Acids by Application of In Vitro Selected Oligonucleotides

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Part of the book series: Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology ((ABE,volume 170))

Abstract

Aptazymes are synthetic molecules composed of an aptamer domain and a catalytic active nucleic acid unit, which may be a ribozyme or a DNAzyme. In these constructs the aptamer domain serves as a molecular switch that can regulate the catalytic activity of the ribozyme or DNAzyme subunit. This regulation is triggered by binding of the aptamers target molecule, which causes significant structural changes in the aptamer and thus in the entire aptazyme. Therefore, aptazymes function similar to allosteric enzymes, whose catalytic activity is regulated by binding of ligands (effectors) to allosteric sites due to alteration of the three-dimensional structure of the active site of the enzyme. In case of aptazymes, the allosteric site is composed of an aptamer. Aptazymes can be designed for different applications and have already been used in analytical assays as well as for the regulation of gene expression.

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Abbreviations

ABTS:

2,2′-Azino bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline)-6 sulfonic acid

ALONA:

Aptazyme-linked oligonucleotide assay

ATP:

Adenosine triphosphate

cOligo:

Complementary oligonucleotide

DNAzyme:

Deoxyribozymes

FRET:

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer

GMP:

Guanosine monophosphate

HDV:

Hepatitis delta virus ribozyme

HHR:

Hammerhead ribozyme

IgE:

Immunoglobulin E

LOD:

Limit of detection

SELEX:

Systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment

VEGF:

Vascular endothelial growth factor

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Technical Chemistry, Leibniz University Hanover, Hannover, Germany

    Johanna-Gabriela Walter & Frank Stahl

Authors
  1. Johanna-Gabriela Walter
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  2. Frank Stahl
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Johanna-Gabriela Walter .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB) Biomarker Validation and Assay Development, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Potsdam, Germany

    Harald Seitz

  2. Institut für Technische Chemie, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Hannover, Germany

    Frank Stahl

  3. Institut für Technische Chemie, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany

    Johanna-Gabriela Walter

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Walter, JG., Stahl, F. (2019). Aptazymes: Expanding the Specificity of Natural Catalytic Nucleic Acids by Application of In Vitro Selected Oligonucleotides. In: Seitz, H., Stahl, F., Walter, JG. (eds) Catalytically Active Nucleic Acids. Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology, vol 170. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/10_2019_92

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