Small-molecule screening made simple for a difficult target with a signaling nucleic acid aptamer that reports on deaminase activity.

Abstract:

Problem child: The application of signaling DNA-aptamer technology to the development and execution of a high-throughput screen for an otherwise problematic target, adenosine deaminase (ADA), is reported. The approach employed a signaling DNA aptamer that reports on adenosine concentration (see scheme). The assay was robust in a screen of more than 44 000 molecules and revealed a new competitive inhibitor of the deaminase.

Authors:

Elowe NH, Nutiu R, Allali-Hassani A, Cechetto JD, Hughes DW, Li Y, Brown ED.

Reference: 

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2006 Aug 25;45(34):5648-52. No abstract available.