Functional nucleic acid probes and uses thereof
AssigneeIowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorMarit Nilsen-Hamilton
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Abstract
The present invention provides functional nucleic acid probes, and methods of using functional nucleic acid probes, for binding a target to carry out a desired function. The probes have at least one functional nucleic acid, at least one regulating nucleic acid, and at least one attenuator. The functional nucleic acid is maintained in an inactive state by the attenuator and activated by the regulating nucleic acid only in the presence of a regulating nucleic acid target. In its activated state the functional nucleic acid can bind to its target to carry out a desired function, such as generating a signal, cleaving a nucleic acid, or catalyzing a reaction.
Claims17
A method of activating a functional nucleic acid to bind to a functional nucleic acid target comprising:
- providing at least one functional nucleic acid, at least one regulating nucleic acid, and at least one attenuator wherein said functional nucleic acid is maintained in an inactive state by said attenuator, said attenuator does not bind to said regulating nucleic acid, and said regulating nucleic acid forms a loop structure between said functional nucleic acid and said attenuator;
- wherein said regulating nucleic acid binds to a regulating nucleic acid target, wherein binding of said regulating nucleic acid to said regulating nucleic acid target induces removal of said attenuator from said functional nucleic acid and activates said functional nucleic acid;
- and
- wherein said activated functional nucleic acid binds to said functional nucleic acid target.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.