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Triplex‐forming molecules: from concepts to applications
Author(s) -
Faria Marcella,
Giovannangeli Carine
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
the journal of gene medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.689
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1521-2254
pISSN - 1099-498X
DOI - 10.1002/jgm.192
Subject(s) - dna , computational biology , gene , biology , gene expression , regulation of gene expression , chemistry , genetics
Abstract The ability to specifically manipulate gene expression has wide‐ranging applications in experimental biology and in gene‐based therapeutics. The design of molecules that recognise specific sequences on the DNA double helix provides us with interesting tools to interfere with DNA information processing at an early stage of gene expression. Triplex‐forming molecules specifically recognise oligopyrimidine·oligopurine sequences by hydrogen bonding interactions. Applications of such triplex‐forming molecules (TFMs) are the subject of the present review. In cell cultures, TFMs have been successfully used to down‐ or up‐regulate transcription in a gene‐specific manner and to induce genomic DNA modifications at a selected site. The first evidence of a triplex‐based activity in animals has been provided recently. In addition, TFMs are also powerful tools for gene‐specific chemistry, in particular for gene transfer applications. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.