Removable Substituent Functional Molecule for Aptamer Amplification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for obtaining molecules with affinity for specific proteins, such as the aptamer method, face challenges including high costs, the need for large protein quantities, and difficulties in amplifying modified nucleic acid analogues with substituents, making it hard to find optimal PCR conditions and achieve efficient bonding with target substances.
Innovation Solution
A functional molecule with removably introduced substituents, synthesized using a functional molecule synthesizing amidite, allows for easy removal of substituents, enabling easier PCR amplification and targeting of specific proteins by converting the molecule into a form similar to naturally occurring nucleic acid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If modified nucleic acid analogues with substituents are used to obtain molecules with affinity for specific proteins, then the molecules can show strong affinity for target substances, but it becomes difficult to find optimal PCR conditions and the molecules are hard to amplify
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the substituent into two functional parts: a removable substituent group that interferes with PCR amplification, and a remaining group that maintains target affinity. This segmentation allows the molecule to be amplified efficiently (with the removable group present) and then converted to its active form (after removal) to bind the target substance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by introducing the removable substituent group before PCR amplification. This allows the modified nucleic acid analogue to be amplified efficiently under standard PCR conditions. After amplification, the substituent is removed to convert the molecule into its active form capable of binding the target substance, thus solving both amplification and affinity requirements.
2Ease of manufacture
If the aptamer method is used to obtain molecules with affinity for specific proteins, then living organisms are not required, but it is not applicable to all proteins and requires large protein quantities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enhances the universality of the aptamer method by combining it with the removable substituent strategy. This allows the method to be applied to a broader range of proteins including those that were previously difficult to target. The removable substituent approach enables efficient amplification and subsequent conversion to active forms, making the method more versatile and applicable to all proteins regardless of availability or characteristics.
3Reliability
If modified nucleic acid analogues with substituents are used, then molecules can be synthesized with affinity for target substances, but the process becomes complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the taking out principle by extracting the problematic substituent group from the final active molecule. The substituent is introduced temporarily during synthesis and amplification, then removed before the molecule is used for target binding. This extraction simplifies the overall process by separating the amplification phase (where substituent is beneficial) from the binding phase (where substituent should be absent), reducing complexity and cost.
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a functional molecule including a modified nucleotide unit having a substituent introduced to a base thereof, wherein the substituent is removably introduced to the base; a functional molecule synthesizing amidite that has a substituent removably introduced to its base and that is used for the manufacture of the functional molecule; and a target substance analysis method including: preparing a random pool of functional molecules using a functional molecule synthesizing amidite; screening a functional molecule having affinity for a target substance from the random pool; amplifying the functional molecules having affinity for the target substance, wherein the method further comprises, prior to the amplification step, removing a substituent from the functional molecule having affinity for the target substance.