Biomaterial Database

Oligonucleotides as therapeutic agents. 1991

J S Cohen

Pharmacology Department, Georgetown University Medical School, Washington DC.

Oligodeoxynucleotides can act as antisense complements to target sequences of mRNAs to selectively regulate gene expression. Chemically modified analogs that are nuclease-resistant enable this antisense strategy to be utilized in practice. Studies with oligodeoxynucleotide analogs in cell free systems, and their cellular uptake will be described. Certain analogs have been found to regulate viral and cellular gene expression. However, some also inhibit in a non-specific manner, that may be traced to their selective inhibition of viral and cellular polymerases. A chemically modified oligodeoxynucleotide analog can be regarded as an informational drug.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009841	Oligonucleotides	Polymers made up of a few (2-20) nucleotides. In molecular genetics, they refer to a short sequence synthesized to match a region where a mutation is known to occur, and then used as a probe (OLIGONUCLEOTIDE PROBES). (Dorland, 28th ed)	Oligonucleotide
D005786	Gene Expression Regulation	Any of the processes by which nuclear, cytoplasmic, or intercellular factors influence the differential control (induction or repression) of gene action at the level of transcription or translation.	Gene Action Regulation,Regulation of Gene Expression,Expression Regulation, Gene,Regulation, Gene Action,Regulation, Gene Expression
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D016376	Oligonucleotides, Antisense	Short fragments of DNA or RNA that are used to alter the function of target RNAs or DNAs to which they hybridize.	Anti-Sense Oligonucleotide,Antisense Oligonucleotide,Antisense Oligonucleotides,Anti-Sense Oligonucleotides,Anti Sense Oligonucleotide,Anti Sense Oligonucleotides,Oligonucleotide, Anti-Sense,Oligonucleotide, Antisense,Oligonucleotides, Anti-Sense