Molecular beacon aptamer fluoresces in the presence of Tat protein of HIV‐1

Abstract

A novel strategy for exploiting aptamers in the analysis of Tat (analyte) has been described. A similar strategy could be used to study other analytes such as proteins and small molecules. In addition, the molecular beacon aptamer requires half the length of target sequence (eight nucleotides) in comparison with molecular beacons. Thus, it is conceivable that we could insert an analyte-binding site into molecular beacons to convert them to signalling beacons.