MINIREVIEW

Cell research (2004);14(2):111-116

Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) binding-mediated gene regulation

Gan WANG, Xiaoxin S XU

Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Wayne State University, 2727 Second Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA

Correspondence: Gan WANG 313-964-8140 (phone) 313-577-0082 (fax) g.wang@wayne.edu

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Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are synthetic oligonucleotides with chemically modified backbones. PNAs can bind to both DNA and RNA targets in a sequence-specific manner to form PNA/DNA and PNA/RNA duplex structures. When bound to double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) targets, the PNA molecule replaces one DNA strand in the duplex by strand invasion to form a PNA/DNA/PNA [or (PNA)₂/DNA] triplex structure and the displaced DNA strand exists as a single-stranded D-loop. PNA has been used in many studies as research tools for gene regulation and gene targeting. The D-loops generated from the PNA binding have also been demonstrated for its potential in initiating transcription and inducing gene expression. PNA provides a powerful tool to study the mechanism of transcription and an innovative strategy to regulate target gene expression. An understanding of the PNA-mediated gene regulation will have important clinical implications in treatment of many human diseases including genetic, cancerous, and age-related diseases.

Keywords: peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), PNA binding, single-stranded D-loop, transcription initiation.