Antisense oligonucleotide

Antisense oligonucleotides are short-chain, synthetic, single-stranded nucleic acids . The name of antisense RNA refers to the fact that its base sequence is opposite (and thus “contrary to the original sense” = anti-sense ) to a functional mRNA . While the mechanism of action of numerous drugs is based on the inhibition of the function of proteins , antisense oligonucleotides already prevent the biosynthesis of proteins. They bind to a complementary mRNA (the sense mRNA ) via Watson-Crick base pairing . The specific binding of the antisense oligonucleotide to the mRNA for the target protein ultimately prevents the formation of the protein concerned by blocking translation and RNA interference .

literature

• Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko, Lubert Stryer : Biochemistry. 6 edition, Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Heidelberg 2007. ISBN 978-3-8274-1800-5 .
• Donald Voet, Judith G. Voet: Biochemistry. 3rd edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York 2004. ISBN 0-471-19350-X .
• Bruce Alberts , Alexander Johnson, Peter Walter, Julian Lewis, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts: Molecular Biology of the Cell , 5th Edition, Taylor & Francis 2007, ISBN 978-0815341062 .