Aptamer

Aptamers (come from the Latin aptus - fit, and Greek word meros-part).

Most of the aptamers molecules are made by selecting them from a wide sequence pool. On the other, the natural aptamers are found in riobswitches.

These aptamers are divided into two groups :

1. Nucleic acid: DNA and RNA aptamers.
2. Peptides

Uses of RNA aptamers :

1. Biosensors (that can detec how much toxin in a solution)
2. Drug targeting agents (specific recognition of cancer cells)
3. Gene regulation (targets for antibacterial drugs)