Modified Nucleic Acids


Book Description

This book spans diverse aspects of modified nucleic acids, from chemical synthesis and spectroscopy to in vivo applications, and highlights studies on chemical modifications of the backbone and nucleobases. Topics discussed include fluorescent pyrimidine and purine analogs, enzymatic approaches to the preparation of modified nucleic acids, emission and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy for studying nucleic acid structure and dynamics, non-covalent binding of low- and high-MW ligands to nucleic acids and the design of unnatural base pairs. This unique book addresses new developments and is designed for graduate level and professional research purposes.










Dendrimer Chemistry


Book Description

An overview of the latest advances in the synthesis, characterization and applications of dendrimers and other complex dendritic architectures.




Aptamers for Analytical Applications


Book Description

An essential guide that puts the focus on method developments and applications in aptamers In recent years, aptamer-based systems have been developed for a wide-range of analytical and medical applications. Aptamers for Analytical Applications offers an introduction to the topic, outlines the common protocols for aptamer synthesis, as well as providing information on the different optimization strategies that can obtain higher affinities to target molecules. The contributors?noted experts on the topic?provide an in-depth review of the characterization of aptamer-target molecule interaction and immobilization strategies and discuss the developments of methods for all the relevant applications. The book outlines different schemes to efficiently immobilize aptamers on substrates as well as summarizing the characterization methods for aptamer-ligand complexes. In addition, aptamer-based colorimetric, enzyme-linked, fluorescent, electrochemical, lateral flow and non-labeling analytical methods are presented. The book also reflects state-of-the-art and emerging applications of aptamer-based methods. This important resource: -Provides a guide to aptamers which provide highly specific and sensitive molecular recognition, with affinities in the range of antibodies and are much cheaper to produce -Offers a discussion of the analytical method developments and improvements with established systems and beyond -Offers a comprehensive guide to all the relevant application areas -Presents an authoritative book from contributors who are noted experts in the field Written for analytical chemists, biochemists, analytical researchers, Aptamers for Analytical Applications is a comprehensive book that adopts a methodological point of view to the important aspects of aptamer generation and modification with a strong emphasis on method developments for relevant applications.




DNA Conjugates and Sensors


Book Description

Applications of nucleic acids have developed recently to provide solutions for biosensors, diagnostic tools and as platforms for the assembly of complex structures. These developments have been possible as their base sequence can be used to assemble precise structures following simple and predictable rules. Self-assembled DNA can then be amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and this ultimately enables the preparation of synthetic nucleic acids. Their use as molecular tools or DNA-conjugates has recently been enhanced by the addition of other groups including enzymes, fluorophores and small molecules. Written by leaders in the field, this volume describes the preparation and application of these DNA-conjugates. Several have been used as sensors (aptamers, riboswitches and nanostructures) based on the ability of nucleic acids to adopt specific structures in the presence of ligands, whilst others link reporter groups such as proteins or fluorophores to RNA or DNA for detection, single molecule studies, and increasing the sensitivity of PCR. The book is relevant to researchers in areas related to analytical chemistry, chemical biology, medicinal chemistry, molecular pharmacology, and structural and molecular biology.




Enzymatic and Chemical Synthesis of Nucleic Acid Derivatives


Book Description

A review of innovative tools for creative nucleic acid chemists that open the door to novel probes and therapeutic agents Nucleic acids continue to gain importance as novel diagnostic and therapeutic agents. With contributions from noted scientists and scholars, Enzymatic and Chemical Synthesis of Nucleic Acid Derivatives is a practical reference that includes a wide range of approaches for the synthesis of designer nucleic acids and their derivatives. The book covers enzymatic (including chemo-enzymatic) methods, with a focus on the synthesis and incorporation of modified nucleosides. The authors also offer a review of innovative approaches for the non-enzymatic chemical synthesis of nucleic acids and their analogs and derivatives, highlighting especially challenging species. The book offers a concise review of the methods that prepare novel and heavily modified polynucleotides in sufficient amount and purity for most clinical and research applications. This important book: -Presents a timely and topical guide to the synthesis of designer nucleic acids and their derivatives -Addresses the growing market for nucleotide-derived pharmaceuticals used as anti-infectives and chemotherapeutic agents, as well as fungicides and other agrochemicals. -Covers novel methods and the most recent trends in the field -Contains contributions from an international panel of noted scientistics Written for biochemists, medicinal chemists, natural products chemists, organic chemists, and biotechnologists, Enzymatic and Chemical Synthesis of Nucleic Acid Derivatives is a practice-oriented guide that reviews innovative methods for the enzymatic as well as non-enzymatic synthesis of nucleic acid species.




Principles of Nucleic Acid Structure


Book Description

New textbooks at all levels of chemistry appear with great regularity. Some fields like basic biochemistry, organic reaction mechanisms, and chemical ther modynamics are well represented by many excellent texts, and new or revised editions are published sufficiently often to keep up with progress in research. However, some areas of chemistry, especially many of those taught at the grad uate level, suffer from a real lack of up-to-date textbooks. The most serious needs occur in fields that are rapidly changing. Textbooks in these subjects usually have to be written by scientists actually involved in the research which is advancing the field. It is not often easy to persuade such individuals to set time aside to help spread the knowledge they have accumulated. Our goal, in this series, is to pinpoint areas of chemistry where recent progress has outpaced what is covered in any available textbooks, and then seek out and persuade experts in these fields to produce relatively concise but instructive introductions to their fields. These should serve the needs of one semester or one quarter graduate courses in chemistry and biochemistry. In some cases the availability of texts in active research areas should help stimulate the creation of new courses. CHARLES R. CANTOR New York Preface This monograph is based on a review on polynucleotide structures written for a book series in 1976.




DNA in Supramolecular Chemistry and Nanotechnology


Book Description

This book covers the emerging topic of DNA nanotechnology and DNA supramolecular chemistry in its broader sense. By taking DNA out of its biological role, this biomolecule has become a very versatile building block in materials chemistry, supramolecular chemistry and bio-nanotechnology. Many novel structures have been realized in the past decade, which are now being used to create molecular machines, drug delivery systems, diagnosis platforms or potential electronic devices. The book combines many aspects of DNA nanotechnology, including formation of functional structures based on covalent and non-covalent systems, DNA origami, DNA based switches, DNA machines, and alternative structures and templates. This broad coverage is very appealing since it combines both the synthesis of modified DNA as well as designer concepts to successfully plan and make DNA nanostructures. Contributing authors have provided first a general introduction for the non-specialist reader, followed by a more in-depth analysis and presentation of their topic. In this way the book is attractive and useful for both the non-specialist who would like to have an overview of the topic, as well as the specialist reader who requires more information and inspiration to foster their own research.