Inhibition of MDR1 expression with altritol-modified siRNAs.

ABSTRACT: Altritol-modified nucleic acids (ANAs) support RNA-like A-form structures when included in oligonucleotide duplexes. Thus altritol residues seem suitable as candidates for the chemical modification of siRNAs. Here we report that ANA-modified siRNAs targeting the MDR1 gene can exhibit improved efficacy as compared to unmodified controls. This was particularly true of ANA modifications at or near the 3' end of the sense or antisense strands, while modification at the 5' end of the antisense strand resulted in complete loss of activity. Multiple ANA modifications within the sense strand were also well tolerated. Duplexes with ANA modifications at appropriate positions in both strands were generally more effective than duplexes with one modified and one unmodified strand. Initial evidence sugg

SUBMITTER: Fisher M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1851637 | biostudies-literature | 2007

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature