Crystal structure, stability and in vitro RNAi activity of oligoribonucleotides containing the ribo-difluorotoluyl nucleotide: insights into substrate requirements by the human RISC Ago2 enzyme.

ABSTRACT: Short interfering RNA (siRNA) duplexes are currently being evaluated as antisense agents for gene silencing. Chemical modification of siRNAs is widely expected to be required for therapeutic applications in order to improve delivery, biostability and pharmacokinetic properties. Beyond potential improvements in the efficacy of oligoribonucleotides, chemical modification may also provide insight into the mechanism of mRNA downregulation mediated by the RNA-protein effector complexes (RNA-induced silencing complex or RISC). We have studied the in vitro activity in HeLa cells of siRNA duplexes against firefly luciferase with substitutions in the guide strand of U for the apolar ribo-2,4-difluorotoluyl nucleotide (rF) [Xia, J. et al. (2006) ACS Chem. Biol., 1, 176-183] as well as of C for rF. W

SUBMITTER: Li F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2095806 | biostudies-literature | 2007

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature