In recent years, RNA trans-splicing has emerged as a suitable RNA editing tool for the specific replacement of mutated gene regions at the pre-mRNA level. Although the technology has been successfully applied for the restoration of protein function in various genetic diseases, a higher trans-splicing efficiency is still desired to facilitate its clinical application. Here, we describe a modifie...

RNAs are versatile molecules that are involved in many important cellular activities including protein synthesis, antisense hybridization, RNA-RNA interactions, and RNA-protein interactions. Computational prediction of RNA higherorder structure is important because crystal structures have been determined only for a few RNA molecules. Statistical algorithms have been recently developed and shown...

In 1987, when I became interested in the notion of antisense technology, I returned to my roots in RNA biochemistry and began work to understand how oligonucleotides behave in biological systems. Since 1989, my research has focused primarily on this topic, although I have been involved in most areas of research in antisense technology. I believe that the art of excellent science is to frame lar...

Expression of foreign proteins in E. coli is normally inhibited by exogenous production of acetate. To overcomethis problem, various strategies have been proposed and tested to reduce the extent of acetate accumulation.Although these strategies can improve the outcome, the implementation of their proposed techniquesis not practical. Because to achieve optimal results, it requi...

The bacteriophage SP6 promoter and RNA polymerase were used to synthesize sense and antisense RNAs coding for the enzymes thymidine kinase (TK) and chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT). Injection of antisense CAT RNA into frog oocytes inhibited expression of sense CAT mRNA. Similarly, antisense TK RNA inhibited expression of sense TK mRNA. Antisense RNAs were stable in oocytes and had no de...

As interest in antisense oligodeoxynucleotide technology continues to grow, the search for a computational means of predicting the efficacy particular oligos has increased as well. Antisense technology allows the targeted down-regulation of an mRNA by application of a complimentary (antisense) phosphorothioate DNA oligo, typically about 20 nt in length. Much remains unknown about which particul...

Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are a promising clinical tool that could be applied for unmet medical needs, but there several limitations their therapeutic application. Here, we designed and synthesized ( S )-5?- C -aminopropyl-2?- O -methylcytidine, containing -methyluridine -methylcytidine. We then investigated the properties of ASOs these nucleoside analogs. -Aminopropyl modifications enh...

Currently there is much excitement in certain quarters about antisense oligonucleotides, both as the drugs of the future for treatment of cancer and viral infections, most notably AIDS, and also as genetic tools for generating mutant phenocopies without genomic mutation in investigations of mammalian gene function. The extent of this excitement is reflected in the proliferation of antisense bio...

The recent identification of antisense RNA in the transcriptomes of many eukaryotes has generated enormous interest. The presence of antisense RNA in Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of severe malaria, remains controversial. Elucidation of the mechanism of antisense RNA in P. falciparum synthesis is critical in order to demonstrate the origin and function of these transcripts. Therefo...