COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR REGULATION OF GENE EXPRESSION WITH, AND DETECTION OF, FOLINIC ACID AND FOLATES

摘要

Aptamers that specifically bind to ligands of folinic acid, a folate, and derivatives thereof (which may be referred to herein as ligands) are provided, and compositions and methods of use thereof. The aptamers and switches of the invention provide biological sensing capability for detecting the ligands, and are effective in sensing in vitro and in vivo. By specific sensing of the ligand, the aptamers of the invention provide a means of engineering an inducible gene regulatory system that enables dose-dependent control over gene expression in response to the ligand, in vivo and in vitro.