Direct Modeling of DNA and RNA Aptamers with AlphaFold 3: A Promising Tool for Predicting Aptamer Structures and Aptamer-Target Interactions.

ABSTRACT: Aptamers, single-stranded nucleic acids that fold into unique three-dimensional shapes, bind selectively to non-nucleotide target molecules, making them promising ligands for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. The ability to accurately predict folded aptamer structures and their molecular interactions would significantly enhance the rational design of nucleic acid-based affinity reagents. However, predicting the 3D structures of aptamers remains challenging due to their complex folding patterns and limited experimental structure data compared to proteins. AlphaFold 3 is the latest structure prediction tool by Google DeepMind that has recently expanded to include nucleic acids and small molecule targets, offering new possibilities for the direct 3D modeling of aptamer sequences. This

SUBMITTER: Ochoa S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12362623 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature