title: Modulating Anti-MicroRNA-21 Activity and Specificity Using Oligonucleotide Derivatives and Length Optimization.
abstract: MicroRNAs are short, endogenous RNAs that direct posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression vital for many developmental and cellular functions. Implicated in the pathogenesis of several human diseases, this group of RNAs provides interesting targets for therapeutic intervention. Anti-microRNA oligonucleotides constitute a class of synthetic antisense oligonucleotides used to interfere with microRNAs. In this study, we investigate the effects of chemical modifications and truncations on activity and specificity of anti-microRNA oligonucleotides targeting microRNA-21. We observed an increased activity but reduced specificity when incorporating locked nucleic acid monomers, whereas the opposite was observed when introducing unlocked nucleic acid monomers. Our data suggest that phosphorothioate anti-microRNA oligonucleotides yield a greater activity than their phosphodiester counterparts and that a moderate truncation of the anti-microRNA oligonucleotide improves specificity without significantly losing activity. These results provide useful insights for design of anti-microRNA oligonucleotides to achieve both high activity as well as efficient mismatch discrimination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurochemistry, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 21A, 106 92 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Alarcón
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guterstam
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Behlke
authors.forename: Kim A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Lennox
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wengel
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: El Andaloussi
authors.forename: Ulo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Langel