NUCLEIC-ACID SELECTION AS A TOOL FOR DRUG DISCOVERY

Nucleic acid selection has proven to be an extremely versatile techniq ue for the isolation of aptamers that can bind tightly and specificall y to target molecules. Aptamers can modulate cellular physiology and h ave begun to be developed for therapeutic applications. Aptamers have also begun to be used as research reagents for the detection and local ization of proteins. Moreover, because nucleic acid selection can quic kly yield compounds that have unique properties and that can be applie d in unique roles, this technique should generally be used as a tool t o augment drug discovery efforts.