Designed signaling aptamers that transduce molecular recognition to changes in fluorescence intensity

We have engineered aptamers that contain fluorescent reporters and that sig nal the presence of cognate ligands in solution. Two different anti-adenosi ne "signaling aptamers", one made from RNA and one from DNA, can selectivel y signal the presence of adenosine in solution. Increases in fluorescence i ntensity reproducibly follow increases in adenosine concentration, and can be used for quantitation. The facile methods we have developed can potentia lly be used for generating a wide variety of signaling aptamers for use in sensor arrays.