Signaling Aptamers for Monitoring Enzymatic Activity and for Inhibitor Screening

Real‐time action: The conversion of adenosine 5′‐monophosphate (AMP) into adenosine by alkaline phosphatase was monitored in real time by exploiting a signaling DNA aptamer as a reporter. The aptamer has a higher affinity for adenosine than for AMP and releases readily distinguishable fluorescence signals upon complexation with AMP and after conversion of AMP into adenosine (see figure).