aptamer

noun

ap·​ta·​mer ˈap-tə-mər How to pronounce aptamer (audio)
: a short segment of DNA, RNA, or peptide that binds to a specific molecular target (such as a protein)
This aptamer works by binding and blocking a major molecule involved in the body's blood-clotting reaction, called thrombin.Debora MacKenzie, New Scientist
Aptamers … are isolated by … the repetitive screening of large pools of randomized molecules for those that bind best to a target.Chemical & Engineering News

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Cite this Entry

“Aptamer.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/aptamer. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.

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