Aptamer and RNA Plasticity

Abstract

A wide variety of RNA molecules are now known to have important or essential biological functions in cells. Some function simply through complementary base pairing, while others through forming a variety of threedimensional shapes. RNA aptamers are the best example of the latter functional RNAs, which are experimentally selected from a random pool of RNA sequences and have high affinity and specificity to the target of interest. Their unique and potent characteristics have greatly promoted the research and development of RNA aptamers for medical and analytical applications. Notably, the first aptamer-based drug, called Macugen (VEGF antagonist), was approved by the U.S. FDA in 2004 far ahead of any RNAi therapeutics.