title: Antisense properties of peptide nucleic acid.
abstract: Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) is a nucleic acid mimic in which the deoxyribose phosphate backbone has been replaced by a pseudo-peptide polymer to which the nucleobases are linked. PNA-oligomers can be synthesized in relatively large amounts, are highly stable in biological environments, and bind complementary DNA and RNA targets with remarkably high affinity and specificity. Thus PNA possesses many of the properties desired for a good antisense agent. Until recently, limited uptake of PNA into cells has been the major obstacle for applying PNA as an antisense agent in cell cultures and in vivo. Here, the antisense properties of PNA in vitro and in vivo will be reviewed. In particular, we will focus on recent observations indicating that PNA equipped with or without various uptake moieties may function as an efficient and gene-specific inhibitor of translation in Escherichia coli and in certain mammalian cell types.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Copenhagen, The Panum Institute, Denmark.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bentin
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000378:metabolism; D004355:Drug Stability; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization / Q000187:drug effects; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D044088:Receptors, Galanin; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D018028:Receptors, Neurotensin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D016914:Ribonuclease H / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044088:Receptors, Galanin; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide; D018028:Receptors, Neurotensin; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; C114036:neurotensin type 1 receptor; D010121:Oxytocin; D016914:Ribonuclease H