title: Chemical modification of siRNA bases to probe and enhance RNA interference.
abstract: Considerable attention has focused on the use of alternatives to the native ribose and phosphate backbone of small interfering RNAs for therapeutic applications of the RNA interference pathway. In this synopsis, we highlight the less common chemical modifications, namely, those of the RNA nucleobases. Base modifications have the potential to lend insight into the mechanism of gene silencing and to lead to novel methods to overcome off-target effects that arise due to deleterious protein binding or mis-targeting of mRNA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Hayden
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peacock
authors.forename: Arunkumar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kannan
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Beal
authors.forename: Cynthia J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Burrows
mesh_terms: D020868:Gene Silencing; D015335:Molecular Probes; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D015335:Molecular Probes; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering