What are Aptamers and How Do They Relate to Catalysis?
Aptamers are RNA or DNA molecules that can bind to specific targets with high affinity and specificity. While not inherently catalytic, aptamers can be engineered to form part of catalytic complexes, known as aptazymes. These hybrid molecules combine the binding capabilities of aptamers with the catalytic functions of ribozymes, allowing for the development of highly specific catalytic systems.
