Binding and catalytic molecules built from l-dna with added nucleotides

Abstract

This invention provides for processes for binding to and/or chemically transforming a preselected target, where the process involves contacting said target to an oligonucleotide molecule that contains one or more 'non-standard' nucleotides, which are nucleotide analogs that, when incorporated into oligonucleotides (DNA or RNA, collectively xNA), present to a pattern of hydrogen bonds that is different from the pattern presented by adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil. This disclosure provides an example where such an oligonucleotide molecule is built from both D- and L-mirror image carbohydrates in the backbone. It also provides a process for obtaining these binders and/or transformers by a laboratory in vitro selection process that exploits rolling circle amplification rather than the polymerase chain reaction.