Details for Patent: 5,503,978

Title:	Method for identification of high affinity DNA ligands of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase
Abstract:	Methods are described for the identification and preparation of DNA ligands to the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase protein. The invention encompasses specific ssDNA ligands to HIV-1 reverse transcriptase identified by the SELEX method including ssDNA ligands that inhibit the activity of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.
Inventor(s):	Schneider; Daniel J. (Boulder, CO), Gold; Larry (Boulder, CO), Feigon; Juli (Los Angeles, CA)
Assignee:	University Research Corporation (Boulder, CO)
Filing Date:	May 06, 1994
Application Number:	08/238,863
Claims:	1. A method of identifying nucleic acid ligands to HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, comprising: a) preparing a candidate mixture of deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA); b) contacting the candidate mixture of DNA with HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, wherein nucleic acids having an increased affinity to HIV-1 reverse transcriptase relative to the candidate mixture may be partitioned from the remainder of the candidate mixture; c) partitioning the increased affinity nucleic acids from the remainder of the candidate mixture; and d) amplifying the increased affinity nucleic acids to yield a ligand-enriched mixture of nucleic acids, whereby nucleic acid ligands to HIV-1 reverse transcriptase may be identified. 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: (e) repeating steps b), c) and d). 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said candidate mixture of DNA is comprised of single stranded DNA.