Locked nucleic acids: a promising molecular family for gene-function analysis and antisense drug development.
Locked nucleic acids (LNAs) are a family of conformationally locked oligonucleotide analogs inducing unprecedented binding affinity towards DNA/RNA target sequences. Importantly, by virtue of the structural resemblance of LNAs to natural nucleic acid monomers, a combination of LNA chemistry with other oligonucleotide chemistries can be exploited to fine-tune the properties towards optimized antisense drug development and target validation technology. The first promising antisense results from experiments with LNA in living animals are described.
Orum
H
H
Cureon, Copenhagen, Denmark. hoe@cureon.com
Wengel
J
J
D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016914:Ribonuclease H / Q000378:metabolism
D009841:Oligonucleotides; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA; D016914:Ribonuclease H