Oligonucleotides comprised of alternating 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-beta-D-arabinonucleosides and D-2'-deoxyribonucleosides (2'F-ANA/DNA 'altimers') induce efficient RNA cleavage mediated by RNase H

Chimeric oligonucleotides comprised of alternating residues of 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-D-arabinonucleic acid (2'F-ANA) and DNA were synthesized and evaluated for an important antisense property-the ability to elicit ribonuclease H (RNase H) degradation of complementary RNA. Experiments used both human RNase HII and Escherichia coli RNase HI. Mixed backbone oligomers comprising alternating three-nucleotide segments of 2'F-ANA and three-nucleotide segments of DNA were the most efficient at eliciting RNase H degradation of target RNA, and were significantly better than oligonucleotides entirely composed of DNA, suggesting that these mixed backbone oligonucleotides may be potent antisense agents.     

A critical survey of the structure-function of the antisense oligo/RNA heteroduplex as substrate for RNase H

The aim of this review is to draw a correlation between the structure of the DNA/RNA hybrid and its properties as a substrate for the RNase H, as well as to point the crucial structural requirements for the modified AONs to preserve their RNase H potency. The review is divided into the following parts: (1) mechanistic considerations, (2) target RNA folding-AON folding-RNase H assistance in AON/RNA hybrid formation, (3) carbohydrate modifications, (4) backbone modifications, (5) base modifications, (6) conjugated AONs, (7) importance of the tethered chromophore in AON for the AON/RNA hybrid interactions with the RNase H. The structural changes in the AON/RNA hybrid duplexes brought by different modifications of the sugar, backbone or base in the antisense strand, and the effect of these changes on the RNase H recognition of the modified substrates have been addressed. Only those AON modifications and the corresponding AON/RNA hybrids, which have been structurally characterized by spectroscopic means and functionally analyzed by their ability to elicit RNase H potency in comparison with the native counterpart have been presented here.     

Comparison of the RNase H cleavage kinetics and blood serum stability of the north-conformationally constrained and 2'-alkoxy modified oligonucleotides

The RNase H cleavage potential of the RNA strand basepaired with the complementary antisense oligonucleotides (AONs) containing North-East conformationally constrained 1',2'-methylene-bridged (azetidine-T and oxetane-T) nucleosides, North-constrained 2',4'-ethylene-bridged (aza-ENA-T) nucleoside, and 2'-alkoxy modified nucleosides (2'-O-Me-T and 2'-O-MOE-T modifications) have been evaluated and compared under identical conditions. When compared to the native AON, the aza-ENA-T modified AON/RNA hybrid duplexes showed an increase of melting temperature (DeltaTm = 2.5-4 degrees C per modification), depending on the positions of the modified residues. The azetidine-T modified AONs showed a drop of 4-5.5 degrees C per modification with respect to the native AON/RNA hybrid, whereas the isosequential oxetane-T modified counterpart, showed a drop of approximately 5-6 degrees C per modification. The 2'-O-Me-T and 2'-O-MOE-T modifications, on the other hand, showed an increased of Tm by 0.5 C per modification in their AON/RNA hybrids. All of the partially modified AON/RNA hybrid duplexes were found to be good substrates for the RNase H mediated cleavage. The Km and Vmax values obtained from the RNA concentration-dependent kinetics of RNase H promoted cleavage reaction for all AON/RNA duplexes with identical modification site were compared with those of the reference native AON/RNA hybrid duplex. The catalytic activities (Kcat) of RNase H were found to be greater (approximately 1.4-2.6-fold) for all modified AON/RNA hybrids compared to those for the native AON/RNA duplex. However, the RNase H binding affinity (1/Km) showed a decrease (approximately 1.7-8.3-fold) for all modified AON/RNA hybrids. This resulted in less effective (approximately 1.1-3.2-fold) enzyme activity (Kcat/Km) for all modified AON/RNA duplexes with respect to the native counterpart. A stretch of five to seven nucleotides in the RNA strand (from the site of modifications in the complementary modified AON strand) was found to be resistant to RNase H digestion (giving a footprint) in the modified AON/RNA duplex. Thus, (i) the AON modification with azetidine-T created a resistant region of five to six nucleotides, (ii) modification with 2'-O-Me-T created a resistant stretch of six nucleotides, (iii) modification with aza-ENA-T created a resistant region of five to seven nucleotide residues, whereas (iv) modification with 2'-O-MOE-T created a resistant stretch of seven nucleotide residues. This shows the variable effect of the microstructure perturbation in the modified AON/RNA heteroduplex depending upon the chemical nature as well as the site of modifications in the AON strand. On the other hand, the enhanced blood serum as well as the 3'-exonuclease stability (using snake venom phosphodiesterase, SVPDE) showed the effect of the tight conformational constraint in the AON with aza-ENA-T modifications in that the 3'-exonuclease preferentially hydrolyzed the 3'-phosphodiester bond one nucleotide away (n + 1) from the modification site (n) compared to all other modified AONs, which were 3'-exonuclease cleaved at the 3'-phosphodiester of the modification site (n). The aza-ENA-T modification in the AONs made the 5'-residual oligonucleotides (including the n + 1 nucleotide) highly resistant in the blood serum (remaining after 48 h) compared to the native AON (fully degraded in 2 h). On the other hand, the 5'-residual oligonucleotides (including the n nucleotide) in azetidine-T, 2'-O-Me-T, and 2'-O-MOE-T modified AONs were more stable compared to that of the native counterpart but more easily degradable than that of aza-ENA-T containing AONs.     

Synthesis and evaluation of some properties of chimeric oligomers containing PNA and phosphono-PNA residues.

In an attempt to improve physico-chemical and biological properties of peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), particularly water solubility and cellular uptake, the synthesis of chimeric oligomers consisted of PNA and phosphono-PNA analogues (pPNAs) bearing the four natural nucleobases has been accomplished. To produce these chimeras, pPNA monomers of two types containing N-(2-hydroxyethyl)phosphonoglycine, or N-(2-aminoethyl)phosphonoglycine backbone, were used in conjunction with PNA monomers representing derivatives of N-(2-aminoethyl)glycine, or N-(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine. The oligomers obtained were composed of either PNA and pPNA stretches or alternating PNA and pPNA monomers. The examination of hybridization properties of PNA-pPNA chimeras to DNA and RNA complementary strands in comparison with pure PNAs, and pPNAs as well as DNA-pPNA hybrids and DNA fragments confirmed that these chimeras form stable complexes with complementary DNA and RNA fragments. They were found to be resistant to degradation by nucleases. All these properties together with good solubility in water make PNA-pPNA hybrids promising for further evaluation as potential therapeutic agents.     

Potent gene-specific inhibitory properties of mixed-backbone antisense oligonucleotides comprised of 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-D-arabinose and 2'-deoxyribose nucleotides

Phosphorothioate deoxyribonucleotides (PS-DNA) are among the most widely used antisense inhibitors. PS-DNA exhibits desirable properties such as enhanced nuclease resistance, improved bioavailability, and the ability to induce RNase H mediated degradation of target RNA. Unfortunately, PS-DNA possesses a relatively low binding affinity for target RNA that impacts on its potency in antisense applications. We recently showed that phosphodiester-linked oligonucleotides comprised of 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-D-arabinonucleic acid (FANA) exhibit both high binding affinity for target RNA and the ability to elicit RNase H degradation of target RNA [Damha et al. (1998) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 120, 12976]. In the present study, we evaluated the antisense activity of phosphorothioate-linked FANA oligonucleotides (PS-FANA). Oligonucleotides comprised entirely of PS-FANA were somewhat less efficient in directing RNase H cleavage of target RNA as compared to their phosphorothioate-linked DNA counterparts, and showed only weak antisense inhibition of cellular target expression. However, mixed-backbone oligomers comprised of PS-FANA flanking a central core of PS-DNA were found to possess potent antisense activity, inhibiting specific cellular gene expression with EC(50) values of less than 5 nM. This inhibition was a true antisense effect, as indicated by the dose-dependent decrease in both target protein and target mRNA. Furthermore, the appearance of mRNA fragments was consistent with RNase H mediated cleavage of the mRNA target. We also compared a series of PS-[FANA-DNA-FANA] mixed-backbone oligomers of varying PS-DNA core sizes with the corresponding 2'-O-methyl oligonucleotide chimeras, i.e., PS-[2'meRNA-DNA-2'meRNA]. Both types of oligomers showed very similar binding affinities toward target RNA. However, the antisense potency of the 2'-O-methyl chimeric compounds was dramatically attenuated with decreasing DNA core size, whereas that of the 2'-fluoroarabino compounds was essentially unaffected. Indeed, a PS-FANA oligomer containing a single deoxyribonucleotide residue core retained significant antisense activity. These findings correlated exactly with the ability of the various chimeric antisense molecules to elicit RNase H degradation of the target RNA in vitro, and suggest that this mode of inhibition is likely the most important determinant for potent antisense activity.     

Peptide nucleic acids: deoxyribonucleic acid mimics with a peptide backbone

This tutorial briefly describes a new class of synthetic biopolymer, which is referred to as peptide nucleic acid (PNA). In PNA, individual nucleobases are linked to an achiral neutral peptide backbone. PNA exhibits the hybridization characteristic (e.g., Watson—Crick duplex formation) of DNA. The achiral peptide backbone provides similar interbase distances as natural DNA, and adequate flexibility to permit base pair interactions with complementary RNA or DNA strands. Several potential applications of PNA oligomers in biotechnology are suggested. These include the use of PNAs as a probe for specific recognition of a DNA or RNA sequence selective, purification of nucleic acids via designed high affinity binding to PNA, screening for DNA mutations, and as possible therapeutic agents.     

肽核酸——一种新型的反义物质

肽核酸是以肽为骨架的一种新型ＤＮＡ模拟物。已经证明肽核酸具有与ＤＮＡ和ＲＮＡ结合的高度亲合性、良好的稳定性及能方便地固相合成等特性。在反义技术和基因治疗中有着很好的前景。本文综述了肽核酸的生物化学特性及其在反义技术方面的应用。     

Antisense inhibition of RNase P: mechanistic aspects and application to live bacteria

We explored bacterial RNase P as a drug target using antisense oligomers against the P15 loop region of Escherichia coli RNase P RNA. An RNA 14-mer, or locked nucleic acid (LNA) and peptide nucleic acid (PNA) versions thereof, disrupted local secondary structure in the catalytic core, forming hybrid duplexes over their entire length. Binding of the PNA and LNA 14-mers to RNase P RNA in vitro was essentially irreversible and even resisted denaturing PAGE. Association rates for the RNA, LNA, and PNA 14-mers were approximately 10(5) m(-1) s(-1) with a rate advantage for PNA and were thus rather fast despite the need to disrupt local structure. Conjugates in which the PNA 14-mer was coupled to an invasive peptide via a novel monoglycine linker showed RNase P RNA-specific growth inhibition of E. coli cells. Cell growth could be rescued when expressing a second bacterial RNase P RNA with an unrelated sequence in the target region. We report here for the first time specific and growth-inhibitory drug targeting of RNase P in live bacteria. This is also the first example of a duplex-forming oligomer that invades a structured catalytic RNA and inactivates the RNA by (i) trapping it in a state in which the catalytic core is partially unfolded, (ii) sterically interfering with substrate binding, and (iii) perturbing the coordination of catalytically relevant Mg2+ ions.     

Antisense inhibition of Flk-1 by oligonucleotides composed of 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-beta-D-arabino- and 2'-deoxy-nucleosides

The design of new antisense oligomers with improved binding affinity for targeted RNA, while still activating RNase H, is a major research area in medicinal chemistry. RNase H recognizes the RNA-DNA duplex and cleaves the complementary mRNA strand, providing the main mechanism by which antisense oligomers elicit their activities. It has been shown that configuration inversion at the C2' position of the DNA sugar moiety (arabinonucleic acid, ANA), combined with the substitution of the 2'OH group by a fluorine atom (2'F-ANA) increases the oligomer's binding affinity for targeted RNA. In the present study, we evaluated the antisense activity of mixed-backbone phosphorothioate oligomers composed of 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-beta-D-arabinose and 2'-deoxyribose sugars (S-2'F-ANA-DNA chimeras). We determined their abilities to inhibit the protein expression and phosphorylation of Flk-1, a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGF), and VEGF biological effects on endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and platelet-activating factor synthesis. Treatment of endothelial cells with chimeric oligonucleotides reduced Flk-1 protein expression and phosphorylation more efficiently than with phosphorothioate antisenses (S-DNA). Nonetheless, these two classes of antisenses inhibited VEGF activities equally. Herein, we also demonstrated the capacity of the chimeric oligomers to elicit RNase H activity and their improved binding affinity for complementary RNA as compared with S-DNA.     

PNA technology

Peptide nucleic acids (PNA) are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) mimics with a pseudopeptide backbone. PNA is an extremely good structural mimic of DNA (or of ribonucleic acid [RNA]), and PNA oligomers are able to form very stable duplex structures with Watson-Crick complementary DNA and RNA (or PNA) oligomers, and they can also bind to targets in duplex DNA by helix invasion. Therefore, these molecules are of interest in many areas of chemistry, biology, and medicine, including drug discovery, genetic diagnostics, molecular recognition, and the origin of life. Recent progress in studies of PNA properties and applications is reviewed.     

Targeting degradation of RNA by RNase H using DNA hairpins

RNase H degradation of two 15 nt RNA target sites was examined in the presence of hairpin DNAs with a 5 nt loop and a 10 bp stem or single-stranded 15 nt DNAs. One target site was a segment of a 79 nt RNA, and the other was part of a 53 nt RNA. Secondary structure predictions indicate that the 53 nt RNA target site is entirely single stranded, while a portion of the 79 nt RNA target site forms an intramolecular duplex. Less RNase H and DNA were needed to cleave the 53 nt RNA target site than the less accessible 79 nt RNA site. The hairpin DNAs had their 5 nt loop and 3' side of the stem fully complementary to the target sites or had sequence changes that produced one to nine mismatched pairs. T(m) values ranged from 57 to 80 degrees C. The stability of the hairpin DNAs relative to the stability of their corresponding RNA-DNA hybrids influenced the extent of RNase H degradation at 37 degrees C. Under the assay conditions employed, the amount of degradation directed by the hairpin DNAs was correlated with their predicted DeltaG(o) (37) of binding to the RNA targets. A DNA hairpin with one mismatch to the target site of the 79 nt RNA did not induce degradation under conditions where fully complementary DNA hairpins produced 50-80% degradation. The in vitro results indicate that DNA hairpins can enhance the stringency of RNase H targeted degradation of the RNA sites.     

A single-label phenylpyrrolocytidine provides a molecular beacon-like response reporting HIV-1 RT RNase H activity

6-Phenylpyrrolocytidine (PhpC), a structurally conservative and highly fluorescent cytidine analog, was incorporated into oligoribonucleotides. The PhpC-containing RNA formed native-like duplex structures with complementary DNA or RNA. The PhpC-modification was found to act as a sensitive reporter group being non-disruptive to structure and the enzymatic activity of RNase H. A RNA/DNA hybrid possessing a single PhpC insert was an excellent substrate for HIV-1 RT Ribonuclease H and rapidly reported cleavage of the RNA strand with a 14-fold increase in fluorescence intensity. The PhpC-based assay for RNase H was superior to the traditional molecular beacon approach in terms of responsiveness, rapidity and ease (single label versus dual). Furthermore, the PhpC-based assay is amenable to high-throughput microplate assay format and may form the basis for a new screen for inhibitors of HIV-RT RNase H.     

Biochemical properties of phosphonoacetate and thiophosphonoacetate oligodeoxyribonucleotides

Phosphorus-modified phosphonoacetate and thiophosphonoacetate oligodeoxyribonucleotides were chemically synthesized and their biochemical properties evaluated. Under physiological pH, these DNA analogs possess negative charge and form stable, complementary A-like DNA:RNA heteroduplexes when analyzed via circular dichroism spectroscopy. Phosphonoacetate and thiophosphonoacetate oligomers were found to stimulate RNase H activity and to be completely resistant to degradation by snake venom phosphodiesterase, DNase I and HeLa cell nuclear extract. Further research has demonstrated that neutral, esterified forms of these analogs can be taken up by cells. Phosphonoacetate and thiophosphonoacetate oligomers therefore represent a new class of oligodeoxyribonucleotide analogs having phosphorus- carbon bonds with considerable potential for use in biological research.     

Increased DNA binding and sequence discrimination of PNA oligomers containing 2,6-diaminopurine.

The synthesis of a diaminopurine PNA monomer, N-[N6-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-2,6-diaminopurine-9-yl] acetyl-N-(2-t-butyloxycarbonylaminoethyl)glycine, and the incorporation of this monomer into PNA oligomers are described. Substitution of adenine by diaminopurine in PNA oligomers increased the T m of duplexes formed with complementary DNA, RNA or PNA by 2.5-6.5 degrees C per diaminopurine. Furthermore, discrimination against mismatches facing the diaminopurine in the hybridizing oligomer is improved. Finally, a homopurine decamer PNA containing six diaminopurines is shown to form a (gel shift) stable strand displacement complex with a target in a 246 bp double-stranded DNA fragment.     

Kinetic analysis of Escherichia coli RNase H using DNA-RNA-DNA/DNA substrates.

The kinetic properties of Escherichia coli ribonuclease H (RNase H) were investigated using oligonucleotide substrates that consist of a short stretch of RNA, flanked on either side by DNA (DNA-RNA-DNA). In the presence of a complementary DNA strand, RNase H cleavage is restricted to the short ribonucleotide stretch of the DNA/RNA heteroduplex. The DNA-RNA-DNA substrate utilized for kinetic studies: (formula; see text) is cleaved at a single site (decreases) in the presence of a complementary DNA strand, to generate (dT)7-(rA)2-OH and p-(rA)2-(dT)9. Anion exchange high performance liquid chromatography was used to separate and quantitate the cleavage products. Under these conditions, RNase H-specific and nonspecific degradation products could be resolved. Kinetic parameters were measured under conditions of 100% hybrid formation (1.2-1.5 molar excess of complementary DNA, T much less than Tm). A linear double reciprocal plot was obtained, yielding a Km of 4.2 microM and a turnover number of 7.1 cleavages per s per RNase H monomer. The kinetic properties of substrate analogs containing varying lengths of RNA (n = 3-5) and 2'-O-methyl modifications were also investigated. Maximal turnover was observed with DNA-RNA-DNA substrates containing a minimum of four RNA residues. Kcat for the rA3 derivative was decreased by more than 100-fold. The Km appeared to decrease with the size of the internal RNA stretch (n = 3-5). No significant difference in turnover number of Km was observed when the flanking DNA was replaced with 2'-O-methyl RNA, suggesting that RNase H does not interact with this region of the heteroduplex.     

Hybridisation based DNA screening on peptide nucleic acid (PNA) oligomer arrays.

Arrays of up to some 1000 PNA oligomers of individual sequence were synthesised on polymer membranes using a robotic device originally designed for peptide synthesis. At approximately 96%, the stepwise synthesis efficiency was comparable to standard PNA synthesis procedures. Optionally, the individual, fully deprotected PNA oligomers could be removed from the support for further use, because an enzymatically cleavable but otherwise stable linker was used. Since PNA arrays could form powerful tools for hybridisation based DNA screening assays due to some favourable features of the PNA molecules, the hybridisation behaviour of DNA probes to PNA arrays was investigated for a precise understanding of PNA-DNA interactions on solid support. Hybridisation followed the Watson-Crick base pairing rules with higher duplex stabilities than on corresponding DNA oligonucleotide sensors. Both the affinity and specificity of DNA hybridisation to the PNA oligomers depended on the hybridisation conditions more than expected. Successful discrimination between hybridisation to full complementary PNA sequences and truncated or mismatched versions was possible at salt concentrations down to 10 mM Na+and below, although an increasing tendency to unspecific DNA binding and few strong mismatch hybridisation events were observed.     

Introduction of chirality into PNA by replacement of the achiral methylene carbonyl linkage to the nucleobase

A novel approach to the introduction of chirality into peptide nucleic acid (PNA) by replacement of the methylene carbonyl linker by an alpha-amino acid derived moiety is described. A monomer compatible with Fmoc-based oligomerization chemistry possessing an L-serine derived linker has been synthesized and incorporated into PNA oligomers. A single, central substitution in a hexathymine PNA strongly destabilized triple helix formation whereas a central substitution in a mixed sequence is much better tolerated. We have investigated the influence of this substitution on the selectivity for strand composition (DNA versus RNA complement) and strand orientation (antiparallel versus parallel) in the context of duplex formation. A PNA 11-mer with a single substitution demonstrates a preference for an antiparallel RNA complement, as judged by thermal denaturation analysis of the complexes.     

RNase H is responsible for the non-specific inhibition of in vitro translation by 2'-O-alkyl chimeric oligonucleotides: high affinity or selectivity, a dilemma to design antisense oligomers.

Ribonuclease H (RNase H) which recognizes and cleaves the RNA strand of mismatched RNA-DNA heteroduplexes can induce non-specific effects of antisense oligonucleotides. In a previous paper [Larrouy et al. (1992), Gene, 121, 189-194], we demonstrated that ODN1, a phosphodiester 15mer targeted to the AUG initiation region of alpha-globin mRNA, inhibited non-specifically beta-globin synthesis in wheat germ extract due to RNase H-mediated cleavage of beta-globin mRNA. Specificity was restored by using MP-ODN2, a methylphosphonate-phosphodiester sandwich analogue of ODN1, which limited RNase H activity on non-perfect hybrids. We report here that 2'-O-alkyl RNA-phosphodiester DNA sandwich analogues of ODN1, with the same phosphodiester window as MP-ODN2, are non-specific inhibitors of globin synthesis in wheat germ extract, whatever the substituent (methyl, allyl or butyl) on the 2'-OH. These sandwich oligomers induced the cleavage of non-target beta-globin RNA sites, similarly to the unmodified parent oligomer ODN1. This is likely due to the increased affinity of 2'-O-alkyl-ODN2 chimeric oligomers for both fully and partly complementary RNA, compared to MP-ODN2. In contrast, the fully modified 2'-O-methyl analogue of ODN1 was a very effective and highly specific antisense sequence. This was ascribed to its inability (i) to induce RNA cleavage by RNase H and (ii) to physically prevent the elongation of the polypeptide chain.     

Peptide nucleic acid (PNA)/DNA hybrid duplexes: intercalation by an internally linked anthraquinone.

Peptide nucleic acids (PNA) mimic DNA and RNA by forming complementary duplex structures following Watson-Crick base pairing. A set of reporter compounds that bind to DNA by intercalation are known, but these compounds do not intercalate in PNA/DNA hybrid duplexes. Analysis of the hybrid PNA duplexes requires development of reporter compounds that probe their chemical and physical properties. We prepared a series of anthraquinone (AQ) derivatives that are linked to internal positions of a PNA oligomer. These are the first non-nucleobase functional groups that have been incorporated into a PNA. The resulting PNA(AQ) conjugates form stable hybrids with complementary DNA oligomers. We find that when the AQ groups are covalently bound to PNA that they stabilize the hybrid duplex and are, at least partially, intercalated.