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Concise Review |
a Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, the
b Department of Medicine and the Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Key Words. RNA • DNA oligonucleotide • Hammerhead ribozymes • Hairpin ribozymes • Gene targeting • Targeted gene disruption • Antisense
Alan M. Gewirtz, M.D., Rm 713 BRBII/III, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. Telephone: 215-898-4499; Fax: 512-573-2078; e-mail: gewirtz{at}mail.med.upenn.edu
At least three different approaches may be used for gene targeting including: A) gene knockout by homologous recombination; B) employment of synthetic oligonucleotides capable of hybridizing with DNA or RNA, and C) use of polyamides and other natural DNA-bonding molecules called lexitropsins.
Targeting mRNA is attractive because mRNA is more accessible than the corresponding gene. Three basic strategies have emerged for this purpose, the most familiar being to introduce antisense nucleic acids into a cell in the hopes that they will form Watson-Crick base pairs with the targeted gene's mRNA. Duplexed mRNA cannot be translated, and almost certainly initiates processes which lead to its destruction. The antisense nucleic acid can take the form of RNA expressed from a vector which has been transfected into the cell, or take the form of a DNA or RNA oligonucleotide which can be introduced into cells through a variety of means. DNA and RNA oligonucleotides can be modified for stability as well as engineered to contain inherent cleaving activity.
It has also been proven that because RNA and DNA are very similar chemical compounds, DNA molecules with enzymatic activity could also be developed. This assumption proved correct and led to the development of a "general-purpose" RNA-cleaving DNA enzyme. The attraction of DNAzymes over ribozymes is that they are very inexpensive to make and that because they are composed of DNA and not RNA, they are inherently more stable than ribozymes.
Although mRNA targeting is impeccable in theory, many additional considerations must be taken into account in applying these strategies in living cells including mRNA site selection, drug delivery and intracellular localization of the antisense agent. Nevertheless, the ongoing revolution in cell and molecular biology, combined with advances in the emerging disciplines of genomics and informatics, has made the concept of nontoxic, cancer-specific therapies more viable then ever and continues to drive interest in this field.
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