Screening of DNA aptamers inhibiting Taq DNA polymerase using algorithm mimicking evolution.

We have developed a novel method for screening DNA aptamers by an algorithm mimicking evolution, which have enabled selection by not affinity but inhibitory activity of aptamers. Using this method, we have successfully obtained DNA aptamers that inhibit Taq DNA polymerase in a few hundred-nanomolar range. This result shows this method would be useful for screening aptamers as an enzyme inhibitor.