Inhibition of Gene Expression by Peptide Nucleic Acids in Cultured Cells

Abstract

We have tested in cultured cells the capacity of antisense and antigene PNAs to inhibit, in a sequence specific manner, the expression of oncogenes in leukaemia and pancreatic carcinoma cells. The results observed appeared promising and suggest that PNA may play in the future an important role in targeting disease-related genes.     

Visible Light Activatable Binary System of Oligonucleotide Conjugates for Nucleic Acids Modification

Abstract

A binary system of oligonucleotides conjugated to perfluoroarylazide and perylene for sequence-specific photomodification of nucleic acids has been developed. The system can be activated by visible light (450-580 nm), reacts 300000 times faster than azide in the absence of perylene and provides highly efficient (up to 99%) photomodification of target ssDNA.