Properties of isonucleotide-incorporated oligodeoxynucleotides and inhibition of the expression of spike protein of SARS-CoV

Bioconjug Chem. 2005 Sep-Oct;16(5):1081-7. doi: 10.1021/bc049769h.

Abstract

Antisense oligonucleotides are recognized to be very efficient tools for the inhibition of gene expression in a sequence specific way. For the discovery of a novel efficient way to modify oligonucleotides, a series of single isonucleotide-incorporated antisense oligodeoxynucleotides have been synthesized, in which an isonucleotide was introduced at different positions of the sequences. The binding behaviors of modified oligodeoxynucleotides to the complementary sequence were studied by UV, CD, and molecular dynamics simulation. The results showed that although the incorporated isonucleotides at certain positions of the sequence interfere with the binding ability to a different extent, B-form duplexes were maintained and the binding abilities of the 3'-end-modified duplexes were better than the corresponding mismatched duplexes. The digestion of modified oligodeoxynucleotides by snake venom phosphodiesterase showed that an isonucleotide strongly antagonizes hydrolysis. The DNA/RNA hybrid formed by a modified oligodeoxynucleotide and its target RNA could activate RNase H. The 3'-end-modified antisense oligodeoxynucelotides inhibited S-glycoprotein expression of SARS-CoV at the mRNA levels in insect Sf9 cells. This study indicated the possibility of designing a novel and effective antisense oligodeoxynucleotide by incorporating an isonucleotide at the 3'-end of the sequence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Circular Dichroism
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Viral / drug effects*
  • Hydrolysis / drug effects
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Nucleic Acid Denaturation
  • Oligoribonucleotides / chemistry*
  • Oligoribonucleotides / metabolism
  • Oligoribonucleotides / pharmacology*
  • Ribonuclease H / metabolism
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / drug effects
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / genetics
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / metabolism
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
  • Transition Temperature
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Oligoribonucleotides
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • Ribonuclease H