Chemical modifications of aptamers can enhance binding properties, however, the design of suitable functional groups remains challenging. Here, the authors introduce cyclooctatetraene (COT)-modified nucleotides in SELEX experiments, identifying COT-aptamers with low nM dissociation constants, highlighting the potential of three-dimensional ligands in aptamer discovery.

Communications Chemistry, Published online: 15 September 2025; doi:10.1038/s42004-025-01629-5Chemical modifications of aptamers can enhance binding properties, however, the design of suitable functional groups remains challenging. Here, the authors introduce cyclooctatetraene (COT)-modified nucleotides in SELEX experiments, identifying COT-aptamers with low nM dissociation constants, highlighting the potential of three-dimensional ligands in aptamer discovery.

The inclusion of chemical modifications into oligonucleotides stabilizes their backbones against nuclease mediated degradation and improves their biological activity. Even though cellular, tissue, and...

Storage of genetic information in DNA occurs through a unique ordering of canonical base pairs. However, this would not be possible in the absence of the sugar–phosphate backbone which is essential fo...

Storage of genetic information in DNA occurs through a unique ordering of canonical base pairs. However, this would not be possible in the absence of the sugar–phosphate backbone which is essential fo...

Decoration of aptamers with chemical modifications at the level of nucleobases grants access to alternative binding modes which often result in improved binding properties. Most functional groups invo...

Access to synthetic oligonucleotides is crucial for applications in diagnostics, therapeutics, synthetic biology, and nanotechnology. Traditional solid phase synthesis is limited by sequence length a...

Les travaux révolutionnaires de la biochimiste Katalin Karikó et du médecin Drew Weissman ont ouvert la voie à l’utilisation thérapeutique de l’ARNm avec un premier cas mondialement reconnu : celui de...