Identification of aptamers as specific binders and modulators of cell-surface receptor activity

In recent years, the SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment) technology has established itself as a powerful tool in basic research with promising applications in diagnostics and therapeutics. Oligonucleotides with high-affinities to their targets, denominated as aptamers, are obtained from partially random oligonucleotide pools by reiterative in vitro selection cycles and screening for binding activity. The original technique allowing the identification of aptamers binding to soluble targets, has recently been extended in order to produce aptamers binding to complex targets including receptors and ion channels embedded in the plasma membrane as well as whole cell surfaces or parasite organisms. In addition to discussing the most recent developments with focus on possible diagnostic and therapeutic application, we provide a simple protocol which has been successfully used to select for RNA aptamers as allosteric modulators of nicotinic receptor activity.