Phosphorothioate modification improves exon-skipping of antisense oligonucleotides based on sulfonyl phosphoramidates in mdx mouse myotubes

Org Biomol Chem. 2022 May 11;20(18):3790-3797. doi: 10.1039/d2ob00304j.

Abstract

2'-O-Methyl (2'-OMe) antisense oligonucleotides (AOs) possessing a various number of 4-(trimethylammonio)butylsulfonyl or tosyl phosphoramidates (N+ and Ts-modifications, respectively) instead of a native phosphodiester linkage were designed to skip exon-23 in dystrophin pre-mRNA transcript in mdx mice myotubes. AOs bearing several zwitterionic N+ modifications in the sequence had remarkably increased thermal stability towards complementary mRNA in comparison with 2'-OMe-RNAs having negatively charged Ts and phosphorothioate (PS) linkages. However, only Ts-modified AOs exhibited a similar level of exon skipping in comparison with fully modified PS-containing 2'-OMe-RNA, whereas the exon skipping induced by N+ modified AOs was much lower with no exon-skipping detected for AOs having seven N+ modifications. The level of exon-skipping was improved once Ts and especially N+ moieties were used in combination with PS-modification, most likely through improved cellular and nuclear uptake of AOs. These results provide new insights on expanding the design of novel chemically modified AOs based on phosphate modifications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amides
  • Animals
  • Exons / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred mdx
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal*
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense* / genetics
  • Phosphates
  • Phosphoric Acids
  • Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides
  • RNA

Substances

  • Amides
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense
  • Phosphates
  • Phosphoric Acids
  • Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides
  • RNA
  • phosphoramidic acid