title: Regulation of gene expression via triple helical formations.
abstract: Triplex-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) are a challenging and very promising subject in modern biochemistry and molecular genetics. Over the last decade, several studies have stated that TFOs: a) can bind to DNA in a sequence-specific manner; b) can provoke DNA repair and recombination in mammalian cells, and c) can be a very effective biological tool in embryonic and oncogenic research on gene expression pathways. Herein we review the basic modes in which TFOs exist, their gene-regulation properties, as well as the obstacles that should be overcome before they become useful in clinical practice (chemotherapy and/or gene therapy).
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece, 11527.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Karympalis
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kalopita
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zarros
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Carageorgiou
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation
chemical_list: C051802:triplex DNA; D004247:DNA