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Introduction and History of the Chemistry of Nucleic Acids Therapeutics. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2434:3-31. [PMID: 35213007 PMCID: PMC7612508 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2010-6_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
This introduction charts the history of the development of the major chemical modifications that have influenced the development of nucleic acids therapeutics focusing in particular on antisense oligonucleotide analogues carrying modifications in the backbone and sugar. Brief mention is made of siRNA development and other applications that have by and large utilized the same modifications. We also point out the pitfalls of the use of nucleic acids as drugs, such as their unwanted interactions with pattern recognition receptors, which can be mitigated by chemical modification or used as immunotherapeutic agents.
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2
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One-step discrimination of BCR/ABLp210 transcript isoforms directly from RNA extraction with fusion-triggered rolling circle amplification. Anal Chim Acta 2019; 1067:129-136. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2019.03.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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3
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Montazersaheb S, Hejazi MS, Nozad Charoudeh H. Potential of Peptide Nucleic Acids in Future Therapeutic Applications. Adv Pharm Bull 2018; 8:551-563. [PMID: 30607328 PMCID: PMC6311635 DOI: 10.15171/apb.2018.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2018] [Revised: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptide nucleic acids (PNA) are synthetic analog of DNA with a repeating N-(2-aminoethyl)-glycine peptide backbone connected to purine and pyrimidine nucleobases via a linker. Considering the unique properties of PNA, including resistance to enzymatic digestion, higher biostability combined with great hybridization affinity toward DNA and RNA, it has attracted great attention toward PNA- based technology as a promising approach for gene alteration. However, an important challenge in utilizing PNA is poor intracellular uptake. Therefore, some strategies have been developed to enhance the delivery of PNA in order to reach cognate site. Although PNAs primarily demonstrated to act as an antisense and antigene agents for inhibition of transcription and translation of target genes, more therapeutic applications such as splicing modulation and gene editing are also used to produce specific genome modifications. Hence, several approaches based on PNAs technology have been designed for these purposes. This review briefly presents the properties and characteristics of PNA as well as different gene modulation mechanisms. Thereafter, current status of successful therapeutic applications of PNA as gene therapeutic intervention in different research areas with special interest in medical application in particular, anti-cancer therapy are discussed. Then it focuses on possible use of PNA as anti-mir agent and PNA-based strategies against clinically important bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soheila Montazersaheb
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Saeid Hejazi
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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4
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Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of a PDT active BODIPY–NLS conjugate. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2013; 23:3204-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2013.03.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2013] [Revised: 03/27/2013] [Accepted: 03/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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5
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Cleavage of BCR–ABL transcripts at the T315I point mutation by DNAzyme promotes apoptotic cell death in imatinib-resistant BCR–ABL leukemic cells. Leukemia 2013; 27:1650-8. [DOI: 10.1038/leu.2013.60] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2012] [Revised: 02/19/2013] [Accepted: 02/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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6
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Asanuma H, Akahane M, Kondo N, Osawa T, Kato T, Kashida H. Quencher-free linear probe with multiple fluorophores on an acyclic scaffold. Chem Sci 2012. [DOI: 10.1039/c2sc20732j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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7
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Burke AC, Swords RT, Kelly K, Giles FJ. Current status of agents active against the T315I chronic myeloid leukemia phenotype. Expert Opin Emerg Drugs 2011; 16:85-103. [DOI: 10.1517/14728214.2011.531698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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8
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Abstract
Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a hematopoietic stem cell malignancy driven by the BCR-ABL fusion tyrosine kinase. The central role played by BCR-ABL1 in the pathogenesis of CML facilitated the development of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) imatinib mesylate, the first actual targeted therapy in cancer history. Imatinib competes with ATP at the active site of BCR-ABL1 kinase. Despite outstanding clinical results, imatinib as well as other BCR-ABL1 TKIs have been associated with limited rates of complete molecular response and the development of mutations within the kinase domain of BCR-ABL1 that impairs TKI binding. To override such drawbacks, an array of novel non-ATP-competitive therapies with distinct mechanisms of action is undergoing preclinical, and in some cases, early clinical stages of development. This review focuses on the most promising among such therapeutics.
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9
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Asanuma H, Hayashi H, Zhao J, Liang X, Yamazawa A, Kuramochi T, Matsunaga D, Aiba Y, Kashida H, Komiyama M. Enhancement of RNA cleavage activity of 10-23 DNAzyme by covalently introduced intercalator. Chem Commun (Camb) 2006:5062-4. [PMID: 17146528 DOI: 10.1039/b611078a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
By introducing an intercalator through D-threoninol to the 10-23 DNAzyme at the junction between its catalytic loop and the binding arm, the RNA cleavage activity was greatly improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Asanuma
- Department of Molecular Design and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan.
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10
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Rapozzi V, Cogoi S, Xodo LE. Antisense locked nucleic acids efficiently suppress BCR/ABL and induce cell growth decline and apoptosis in leukemic cells. Mol Cancer Ther 2006; 5:1683-92. [PMID: 16891454 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-06-0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) develops when a hematopoietic stem cell acquires the Philadelphia chromosome carrying the BCR/ABL fusion gene. This gives the transformed cells a proliferative advantage over normal hematopoietic cells. Silencing the BCR/ABL oncogene by treatment with specific drugs remains an important therapeutic goal. In this work, we used locked nucleic acid (LNA)-modified oligonucleotides to silence BCR/ABL and reduce CML cell proliferation, as these oligonucleotides are resistant to nucleases and exhibit an exceptional affinity for cognate RNA. The anti-BCR/ABL oligonucleotides were designed as LNA-DNA gapmers, consisting of end blocks of 3/4 LNA monomers and a central DNA stretch of 13/14 deoxyribonucleotides. The gapmers were complementary to the b2a2 and b3a2 mRNA junctions with which they form hybrid duplexes that have melting temperatures of 79 degrees C and 75 degrees C, respectively, in a 20 mmol/L NaCl-buffered (pH 7.4) solution. Like DNA, the designed LNA-DNA gapmers were capable of activating RNase H and promote cleavage of the target b2a2 and b3a2 BCR/ABL mRNAs. The treatment of CML cells with junction-specific antisense gapmers resulted in a strong and specific reduction of the levels of BCR/ABL transcripts ( approximately 20% of control) and protein p210(BCR/ABL) ( approximately 30% of control). Moreover, the antisense oligonucleotides suppressed cell growth up to 40% of control and induced apoptosis, as indicated by the increase of caspase-3/7 activity in the treated cells. Finally, the b2a2-specific antisense gapmer used in combination with STI571 (imatinib mesylate), a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of p210(BCR/ABL), produced an enhanced antiproliferative effect in KYO-1 cells, which compared with K562 cells are refractory to STI571. The data of this study support the application of BCR/ABL antisense LNA-DNA gapmers, used either alone or in combination with STI571, as potential antileukemic agents.
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MESH Headings
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/chemistry
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use
- Apoptosis/genetics
- Benzamides
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/analysis
- Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/antagonists & inhibitors
- Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/genetics
- Humans
- Imatinib Mesylate
- Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/genetics
- Oligonucleotides
- Oligonucleotides, Antisense/chemistry
- Oligonucleotides, Antisense/therapeutic use
- Piperazines/therapeutic use
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use
- Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors
- Pyrimidines/therapeutic use
- RNA, Messenger/antagonists & inhibitors
- Ribonuclease H/drug effects
- Transcription, Genetic/drug effects
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Rapozzi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, School of Medicine, P.le Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
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11
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Abstract
The potential for exploration of peptide nucleic acid (PNA) as an experimental and therapeutic regulator of gene expression has been hampered by a poor delivery and a lack of site-specific targeting. In the present study, we have developed an efficient strategy for nuclear delivery of PNA by combining cationically charged PNA-peptide conjugates and photochemical internalization (PCI) technology. When using the S100A4 gene as a model system, a consistent downregulation to around 10% remaining protein signal was obtained in three selected cell lines. Furthermore, a dose-dependent and time-dependent inhibition of the S100A4 protein was demonstrated. A main benefit of the strategy proposed is the possibility of site-specific targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Bøe
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute of Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Montebello, NO-0310 Oslo, Norway.
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12
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Chiarantini L, Cerasi A, Millo E, Sparnacci K, Laus M, Riccio M, Santi S, Ballestri M, Spaccasassi S, Tondelli L. Enhanced antisense effect of modified PNAs delivered through functional PMMA microspheres. Int J Pharm 2006; 324:83-91. [PMID: 16926075 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2006.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2006] [Revised: 07/03/2006] [Accepted: 07/06/2006] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Peptide nucleic acids (PNA) are very promising antisense agents, but their in vivo application is often hampered by their low bioavailability, mainly due to their limited uptake through cellular and nuclear membranes. However, PNA chemical synthesis easily allows modification with functional structures able to improve the intrinsically low permeability and great interest is arising in finding specific and efficient delivery protocols. Polymeric core-shell microspheres with anionic functional groups on the surface were tested for their ability to reversibly bind lysine modified PNA sequences, whose antisense activity against COX-2 mRNA was already demonstrated in murine macrophages.
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13
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Cogoi S, Codognotto A, Rapozzi V, Xodo LE. Antigene property of PNA conjugated to the nuclear localization signal peptide. NUCLEOSIDES NUCLEOTIDES & NUCLEIC ACIDS 2005; 24:971-4. [PMID: 16248074 DOI: 10.1081/ncn-200059333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) is a DNA mimic with antigene properties. To enhance its capacity to enter in the cell and internalize in the nucleus, PNA has been conjugated to the nuclear localization signal (NLS) peptide, PKKKRKV PNA-NLS conjugates form stable hybrids with complementary DNA strands and poorly tolerate mismatched base pairing. Employed against cancer-associated genes, PNA-NLS exhibited a potent and specific antigene activity, suggesting exciting therapeutic approaches to cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Cogoi
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, School of Medicine, Udine, Italy
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14
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Chiarantini L, Cerasi A, Fraternale A, Millo E, Benatti U, Sparnacci K, Laus M, Ballestri M, Tondelli L. Comparison of novel delivery systems for antisense peptide nucleic acids. J Control Release 2005; 109:24-36. [PMID: 16290244 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2005.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2005] [Accepted: 08/15/2005] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) provide a powerful tool to study the mechanism of transcription and translation, an innovative strategy to regulate target gene expression. They have been successfully used in antisense technology, for their ability to specifically bind to messenger RNA (mRNA) targets and to inhibit translation of the target genes. However, unlike most of the DNA and RNA oligonucleotides, PNAs are poorly penetrated through the cell membrane, partially due to their uncharged property. To enhance the efficiency in PNA delivery, many strategies have been explored. We here compare the efficacy of three different delivery strategies for antisense PNA: 1) conjugation to hydrophobic peptides, 2) adsorption onto polymeric microspheres and 3) encapsulation in autologous erythrocytes. To this purpose, we designed and prepared PNA sequences able to inhibit the expression of macrophage enzymes involved in inflammatory process, i.e. nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and tested their antisense activity in a murine macrophage cellular model. Both delivery through polymeric microspheres and encapsulation into erythrocytes allowed the antisense activity of unmodified PNAs at nanomolar concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Chiarantini
- Institute of Biochemistry Giorgio Fornaini, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Italy.
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15
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Ziemba AJ, Zhilina ZV, Krotova-Khan Y, Stankova L, Ebbinghaus SW. Targeting and regulation of the HER-2/neu oncogene promoter with bis-peptide nucleic acids. Oligonucleotides 2005; 15:36-50. [PMID: 15788899 DOI: 10.1089/oli.2005.15.36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Antigene oligonucleotides have the potential to regulate gene expression through site-specific DNA binding. However, in vivo applications have been hindered by inefficient cellular uptake, degradation, and strand displacement. Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) address several of these problems, as they are resistant to degradation and bind DNA with high affinity. We designed two cationic pyrimidine bis-PNAs (cpy-PNAs) to target the polypurine tract of the HER-2/neu promoter and compared them to an unmodified phosphodiester triplex-forming oligonucleotide (TFO1) and a TFO-nitrogen mustard conjugate (TFO2). PNA1 contains a + 2 charge and bound two adjacent 9-bp target sequences with high affinity and specificity, but only at low pH. PNA2 contains a +5 charge and bound one 11-bp target with high affinity up to pH 7.4, but with lower specificity. The PNA:DNA:PNA triplex formed by these cpy-bis-PNAs presented a stable barrier to DNA polymerase extension. The cpy-bis-PNAs and the TFO-alkylator conjugate prevented HER-2/neu transcription in a reporter gene assay (TFO2 = PNA1 > PNA2 >> TFO1). Both PNAs and TFOs were effective at binding the target sequence in naked genomic DNA, but only the TFO-alkylator (TFO2) and the more cationic PNA (PNA2) were detected at the endogenous HER-2/neu promoter in permeabilized cells. This work demonstrates the potential for preventing HER-2/neu gene expression with cpy-bis-PNAs in tumor cells.
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16
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Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter E Nielsen
- Center for Biomolecular Recognition, IMBG, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3C, Copenhagen DK-2200N, Denmark.
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17
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Kilk K, Elmquist A, Saar K, Pooga M, Land T, Bartfai T, Soomets U, Langel U. Targeting of antisense PNA oligomers to human galanin receptor type 1 mRNA. Neuropeptides 2004; 38:316-24. [PMID: 15464198 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2004.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2004] [Accepted: 06/19/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
In this work, we have targeted positions 18-38 of the human galanin receptor type 1 (GalR1) mRNA coding sequence with different peptide nucleic acid (PNA) oligomers. This region has previously been shown to be a good antisense region and therefore we aimed to identify the subregions and/or thermodynamic parameters determining the antisense efficacy. Nine different PNA oligomers were conjugated to a cell-penetrating peptide, transportan, to enhance their cellular uptake. Concentration-dependent down-regulation of GalR1 protein expression in human melanoma cell line Bowes was measured by radioligand binding assay. No reduction of GalR1 mRNA level was observed upon PNA treatment, thus, the effect was concluded to be translational arrest. Judging from the EC50 values, antisense PNA oligomers targeting regions 24-38 (EC50=70 nM) or 27-38 (EC50=80 nM) were the most potent suppressors of protein expression. No parameter predicted by M-fold algorithm was found to correlate with the measured antisense activities. Presence of some subregions was found not to increase antisense efficiency of PNA. Presence of a short unpaired triplet between nucleotides 33 and 35 in the target region was, on the other hand, found to be the most critical for efficient GalR1 down-regulation. Thus, the results are of high impact in designing antisense oligomers. Specific results of this study demonstrate 20-fold more efficient antisense down-regulation of GalR1 as achieved before.
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MESH Headings
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Down-Regulation
- Humans
- Nucleic Acid Conformation
- Oligonucleotides, Antisense/genetics
- Oligonucleotides, Antisense/metabolism
- Peptide Nucleic Acids/genetics
- Peptide Nucleic Acids/metabolism
- RNA, Messenger/chemistry
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Receptor, Galanin, Type 1/genetics
- Receptor, Galanin, Type 1/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalle Kilk
- Department of Neurochemistry and Neurotoxicology, Arrhenius Laboratories, Stockholm University, Svante Arrheniusvag. 21A, S-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
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18
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Abstract
The twenty-first century is beginning with a sharp turn in the field of cancer therapy. Molecular targeted therapies against specific oncogenic events are now possible. The BCR-ABL story represents a notable example of how research from the fields of cytogenetics, retroviral oncology, protein phosphorylation, and small molecule chemical inhibitors can lead to the development of a successful molecular targeted therapy. Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec, STI571, or CP57148B) is a direct inhibitor of ABL (ABL1), ARG (ABL2), KIT, and PDGFR tyrosine kinases. This drug has had a major impact on the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) as well as other blood neoplasias and solid tumors with etiologies based on activation of these tyrosine kinases. Analysis of CML patients resistant to BCR-ABL suppression by Imatinib mesylate coupled with the crystallographic structure of ABL complexed to this inhibitor have shown how structural mutations in ABL can circumvent an otherwise potent anticancer drug. The successes and limitations of Imatinib mesylate hold general lessons for the development of alternative molecular targeted therapies in oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephane Wong
- Molecular Biology Interdepartmental PhD Program/UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095-1662, USA.
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19
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van Rossenberg SMW, Sliedregt-Bol KM, Prince P, van Berkel TJC, van Boom JH, van der Marel GA, Biessen EAL. A targeted peptide nucleic acid to down-regulate mouse microsomal triglyceride transfer protein expression in hepatocytes. Bioconjug Chem 2004; 14:1077-82. [PMID: 14624620 DOI: 10.1021/bc0340417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Peptide nucleic acids (PNA's) have shown to hold potential as antisense drugs. In this study we have designed PNA drugs for the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP), which is known to play a critical role in the assembly of atherogenic lipoproteins, and have converted the most potent drug into a liver-targeted prodrug. First, we have synthesized three PNA sequences targeting domains on the mouse MTP mRNA, which were not involved in intrastrand base-pairing interactions as jugded from its secondary structure. Only one of the PNA's, PNA569, showed dose-dependent inhibition of MTP expression in a cell-free system for coupled transcription/translation of MTP. Second, to improve the cellular uptake of this PNA drug, we have conjugated PNA569 to a high affinity ligand for the asialoglycoprotein receptor, K(GalNAc)(2). As compared to the parent PNA, the prodrug PNA-K(GalNAc)(2) was found to display to a markedly improved capacity to inhibit MTP mRNA expression in parenchymal liver cells. A glycoconjugated nonsense control appeared to be ineffective. In conclusion, the design of a targeted PNA is described to reduce MTP expression in parenchymal liver cells by 70%. The presented approach for targeted tissue-specific down-regulation of genes by PNA's may be valid for other genes as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine M W van Rossenberg
- Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research, Division of Biopharmaceutics, Gorlaeus Laboratories, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9502, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
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20
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Morris MC, Chaloin L, Choob M, Archdeacon J, Heitz F, Divita G. Combination of a new generation of PNAs with a peptide-based carrier enables efficient targeting of cell cycle progression. Gene Ther 2004; 11:757-64. [PMID: 14961071 DOI: 10.1038/sj.gt.3302235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The design of potent systems for the delivery of charged and noncharged molecules that target genes of interest remains a challenge. We describe a novel technology that combines a new generation of peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), or HypNA-pPNAs, with a new noncovalent peptide-based delivery system, Pep-2, which promotes efficient delivery of PNAs into several cell lines. We have validated the potential of this technology by showing that Pep2-mediated delivery of an antisense HypNA-pPNA chimera directed specifically against cyclin B1 induces rapid and robust downregulation of its protein levels and efficiently blocks cell cycle progression of several cell lines, as well as proliferation of cells derived from a breast cancer. Pep-2-based delivery system was shown to be 100-fold more efficient in delivering HypNA-pPNAs than classical cationic lipid-based methods. Whereas Pep-2 is essential for improving the bioavailability of PNAs and HypNA-pPNAs, the latter contribute significantly to the efficiency and specificity of the biological response. We have found that Pep-2/HypNA-pPNA strategy promotes potent antisense effects, which are approximately 25-fold greater than with classical antisense oligonucleotide directed specifically against the same cyclin B1 target. Taken together, these data demonstrate that peptide-mediated delivery of HypNA-pPNAs constitutes a very promising technology for therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Morris
- Department of Biophysics, Centre de Recherches de Biochimie Macromoléculaire, UPR-1086 CNRS, Montpellier, France
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21
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Bakalova R, Ohba H, Zhelev Z, Kubo T, Fujii M, Ishikawa M, Shinohara Y, Baba Y. Antisense inhibition of Bcr-Abl/c-Abl synthesis promotes telomerase activity and upregulates tankyrase in human leukemia cells. FEBS Lett 2004; 564:73-84. [PMID: 15094045 DOI: 10.1016/s0014-5793(04)00318-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2004] [Revised: 03/03/2004] [Accepted: 03/14/2004] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Clinical studies in chronic myelogenous leukemia demonstrate that the overexpression of Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase is usually accompanied by relatively low telomerase activity in the chronic phase, which reverts to a high activity in blast crisis. The present study was designed to investigate the cross-talk between both enzymes, using Bcr-Abl-positive K-562 and Bcr-Abl-negative Jurkat cell lines, treated with antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODNs) against Bcr-Abl/c-Abl mRNA. The decreased amount and enzyme activity of Bcr-Abl/c-Abl provoked telomerase activation in both cell lines. After short-term treatment with anti-Bcr-Abl/c-Abl ODNs (6 days), no variations in hTERT and phospho-hTERT were detected. The decreased amount of Bcr-Abl/c-Abl was accompanied by: alterations in telomeric associated proteins-overexpression of tankyrase and decreased amount of TRF1/Tin2, cell growth arrest of K-562 cells, reaching a plateau after 6 days treatment, and increased proliferating activity of Jurkat cells. No changes in telomere length were detected after short-term treatment. In contrast, after long-term treatment with anti-Bcr-Abl/c-Abl ODNs (36 days), a significant elongation of telomeres and enhancement of hTERT were established, accompanied by an increased proliferating activity of both cell lines. These data provide evidence that the inhibition of Bcr-Abl or c-Abl synthesis keeps a potential to restore or induce cell proliferation through telomere lengthening control and telomerase activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rumiana Bakalova
- Single-Molecule Bioanalysis Laboratory, National Institute for Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, AIST-Shikoku, 2217-14 Hayashi-cho, Takamatsu, Kagawa 761-0395, Japan.
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22
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Cogoi S, Rapozzi V, Xodo LE. Inhibition of gene expression by peptide nucleic acids in cultured cells. NUCLEOSIDES NUCLEOTIDES & NUCLEIC ACIDS 2003; 22:1615-8. [PMID: 14565479 DOI: 10.1081/ncn-120023081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Cogoi
- Department of Biochemical Sciences and Technologies, Udine, Italy
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