DNA mimics based on pyrrolidine and hydroxyproline

In recent years, a great number of analogues and mimics of nucleic acids have been developed with the aim of improving the physicochemical and biological properties of native oligonucleotides, in particular, to increase their affinity for nucleic acids, selectivity of action, and biological stability. This review summarizes the data on the synthesis and properties of DNA mimics, the analogues of peptide nucleic acids, which are the derivatives of pyrrolidine and hydroxyproline. Some physicochemical and biological properties of negatively charged mimics of this type are considered, which contain phosphonate residues in the back-bone and exhibit a high affinity for DNA and RNA, the selectivity of binding to nucleic acids, and stability in various biological systems. Examples of using these mimics as tools in molecular biology studies, in particular, functional genomics, are given. The prospects for their application in diagnosis and medicine are discussed.