Cationic oligonucleotides can mediate specific inhibition of gene expression in Xenopus oocytes

Base-specific hydrogen bonding between an oligonucleotide and the purines in the major groove of a DNA duplex provide an approach to selective inhibition of gene expression. Oligonucleotide-mediated triplex formation in vivo may be enhanced by a number of different chemical modifications. We have pr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nucleic acids research 1998-11, Vol.26 (21), p.4860-4867
Main Authors: Bailey, Cheryl P., Weeks, Daniel L., Dagle, John M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Base Sequence
beta-Galactosidase - genetics
Binding Sites
Cations
Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase - genetics
Ethylenediamines
Female
Freshwater
Gene Expression - drug effects
Genes, Reporter - drug effects
Hydrogen Bonding
In Vitro Techniques
Nucleic Acid Conformation
Oligodeoxyribonucleotides - chemistry
Oligodeoxyribonucleotides - pharmacology
Oocytes - drug effects
Oocytes - metabolism
Plasmids - genetics
Xenopus
Xenopus laevis
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Summary:Base-specific hydrogen bonding between an oligonucleotide and the purines in the major groove of a DNA duplex provide an approach to selective inhibition of gene expression. Oligonucleotide-mediated triplex formation in vivo may be enhanced by a number of different chemical modifications. We have previously described an in vitro analysis of triplex formation using oligonucleotides containing internucleoside phosphate linkages modified with the cation N,N-diethyl-ethylenediamine (DEED). When compared with unmodified oligonucleotides of identical base composition, DEED-modified oligonucleotides were better able to form DNA triplexes under conditions that approximate the pH, magnesium and potassium levels found in vivo. Here we report the ability of DEED-modified oligonucleotides to inhibit the expression of plasmid DNA injected into Xenopus oocytes. Inhibition is specific to plasmids containing a triplex formation target and sensitive to sequence alteration in the triplex forming target site. Inhibition of gene expression was nearly complete when oligonucleotide and plasmid were mixed together prior to injection. Inhibition was partial when oligonucleotide was injected first and not evident when plasmid was injected and allowed to form chromatin prior to oligonucleotide injection. Thus, access to DNA is a determining factor in effective triplex inhibition of gene expression.
ISSN:0305-1048
1362-4962
1362-4962
DOI:10.1093/nar/26.21.4860