title: The peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), powerful tools for molecular genetics and cytogenetics.
abstract: Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are synthetic mimics of DNA in which the deoxyribose phosphate backbone is replaced by a pseudo-peptide polymer to which the nucleobases are linked. PNAs hybridize with complementary DNAs or RNAs with remarkably high affinity and specificity, essentially because of their uncharged and flexible polyamide backbone. The unique physico-chemical properties of PNAs have led to the development of a variety of research assays, and over the last few years, the use of PNAs has proven their powerful usefulness in molecular biology procedures and diagnostic assays. The more recent applications of PNA involve their use as molecular hybridization probes. Thus, several sensitive and robust PNA-dependent methods have been designed for developing antigene and anticancer drugs, modulating PCR reactions, detecting genomic mutation or labelling chromosomes in situ.
authors.affiliation: CNRS UPR 1142, Institute of Human Genetics, 141 rue de la Cardonille, F-34396 Montpellier Cedex 5, France. franck.pellestor@igh.cnrs.fr
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pellestor
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paulasova
mesh_terms: D003582:Cytogenetics / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D015195:Drug Design; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D008967:Molecular Biology / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids