title: Development and characterization of gene silencing DNA cages.
abstract: RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful therapeutic strategy that induces gene silencing by targeting disease-causing mRNA and can lead to their removal through degradation pathways. The potential of RNAi is especially relevant in cancer therapy, as it can be designed to regulate the expression of genes involved in all stages of tumor development (initiation, growth, and metastasis). We have generated gene silencing 3D DNA prisms that integrate antisense oligonucleotide therapeutics at 1, 2, 4, and 6 positions. Synthesis of these structures is readily achieved and leads to the assembly of highly monodisperse and well-characterized structures. We have shown that antisense strands scaffolded on DNA cages can readily induce gene silencing in mammalian cells and maintain gene knockdown levels more effectively than single and double stranded controls through increased stability of bound antisense units.
authors: Department of Chemistry and Center for Self-Assembled Chemical Structures, McGill University , 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0B8, Canada.
authors: Johans J
authors: JJ
authors: Fakhoury
authors: Christopher K
authors: CK
authors: McLaughlin
authors: Thomas W
authors: TW
authors: Edwardson
authors: Justin W
authors: JW
authors: Conway
authors: Hanadi F
authors: HF
authors: Sleiman
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D020868:Gene Silencing / Q000502:physiology*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D049409:Luciferases, Firefly / Q000235:genetics; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D004247:DNA; D049409:Luciferases, Firefly