One aptamer, two functions: the full-length aptamer inhibits AMPA receptors, while the short one inhibits both AMPA and kainate receptors

. 2017, we have reported on the discovery and molecular characterization of an RNA aptamer of a dual functionality: the full-length RNA (101 nucleotide) inhibits AMPA receptors while the truncated or the short (55 nucleotide) RNA inhibits both the AMPA and kainate receptors. The full-length RNA aptamer was isolated through a specially designed, systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) using only a single type of AMPA receptors expressed in HEK-293 cells. The design feature and the results of our recent article are highlighted here, as they demonstrate the utility of the SELEX approach and the potential of using a single AMPA receptor type to develop potent, novel RNA aptamers targeting multiple subunits and AMPA/kainate receptor subtypes with length-dependent functionalities.