A new modified DNA enzyme that targets influenza virus A mRNA inhibits viral infection in cultured cells.
DNA enzymes are RNA-cleaving single-stranded DNA molecules. We designed DNA enzymes targeting the PB2 mRNA translation initiation (AUG) region of the influenza A virus (A/PR/8/34). The modified DNA enzymes have one or two N3'-P5' phosphoramidate bonds at both the 3'- and 5'-termini of the oligonucleotides, which significantly enhanced their nuclease resistance. These modified DNA enzymes had the same cleavage activity as the unmodified DNA enzymes, determined by kinetic analyses, and reduced influenza A virus replication by more than 99%, determined by plaque formation. These DNA enzymes are highly specific; their protective effect was not observed in influenza B virus (B/Ibaraki)-infected Madin-Darby canine kidney cells.
Takahashi
Hitoshi
H
Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Chiba Institute of Technology, 2-17-1 Tsudanuma, Narashino, Chiba 275-0016, Japan.
Hamazaki
Hiroyuki
H
Habu
Yuichiro
Y
Hayashi
Mieko
M
Abe
Takayuki
T
Miyano-Kurosaki
Naoko
N
Takaku
Hiroshi
H
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D021881:DNA, Catalytic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000821:virology*; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology; D007700:Kinetics; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000378:metabolism; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D013045:Species Specificity; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay
D021881:DNA, Catalytic; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D012333:RNA, Messenger