PNA Technology.
Peptide nucleic acids (PNA) are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) mimics with a pseudopeptide backbone. PNA is an extremely good structural mimic of DNA (or of ribonucleic acid [RNA]), and PNA oligomers are able to form very stable duplex structures with Watson-Crick complementary DNA and RNA (or PNA) oligomers, and they can also bind to targets in duplex DNA by helix invasion. Therefore, these molecules are of interest in many areas of chemistry, biology, and medicine, including drug discovery, genetic diagnostics, molecular recognition, and the origin of life. Recent progress in studies of PNA properties and applications is reviewed.
Nielsen
Peter E
PE
Center for Biomolecular Recognition, IMBG, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3C, Copenhagen DK-2200N, Denmark. pen@imbg.ku.dk
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D016375:Antisense Elements (Genetics) / Q000737:chemistry; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D007364:Intercalating Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016375:Antisense Elements (Genetics); D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007364:Intercalating Agents; D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA