Smart ligands

Smart ligands are affinity ligands selected with pre-defined equilibrium (K_d), kinetic (k_off, k_on) and thermodynamic (ΔH, ΔS) parameters of biomolecular interaction.

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Ligands with desired parameters can be selected from large combinatorial libraries of biopolymers using instrumental separation techniques with well-described kinetic behaviour, such as Kinetic Capillary Electrophoresis (KCE), Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and etc. Known examples of smart ligands include DNA smart aptamers; however, RNA and peptide smart aptamers can also be developed.

Smart ligands can find a set of unique applications in biomedical research, drug discovery and proteomic studies. For example, a panel of DNA smart aptamers has been recently used to develop affinity analysis of proteins with ultra-wide dynamic range of measured concentrations.

References

• Drabovich, A.; Berezovski, M.; Krylov, S.N. Selection of smart aptamers by equilibrium capillary electrophoresis of equilibrium mixtures (ECEEM). J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 11224-11225. PMID: 16089434
• Drabovich, A.P. ; Berezovski, M.; Okhonin, V.; Krylov, S.N. Selection of smart aptamers by methods of kinetic capillary electrophoresis. Anal. Chem. 2006, 78, 3171-3178. PMID: 16643010
• Drabovich, A.P. ; Okhonin, V.; Berezovski, M.; Krylov, S.N. Smart aptamers facilitate multi-probe affinity analysis of proteins with ultra-wide dynamic range of measured concentrations. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 7260-7261. PMID: 17503828
• Krylov, S.N. Kinetic CE: foundation for homogeneous kinetic affinity methods. Electrophoresis 2007, 28, 69-88. PMID: 17245689