Antisense DNA oligonucleotide (AS) technology is a promising approach to regulate gene expression and cellular processes. For example, ASs can be used to capture the overexpressed, oncogenic miRNAs in tumors to suppress tumor growth. Among many challenges faced by AS approach is the degradation of ASs by nucleases under physiological conditions. Elongating the AS lifespan can substantially enhance the functions of AS. The paper reports a simple strategy to increase the stability of ASs. The authors discover that the ASs degrade quickly if their ends are in unpaired, single-stranded form, but much slower if their ends are in paired duplex form. It is conceivable to integrate this strategy with other strategies (such as chemical modification of ASs backbones) to maximally increase the ASs stabilities.
Keywords: DNA secondary structure; antisense DNA oligonucleotide; miR-21; miRNA; stability enhancement.
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