Ester modification at the 3' end of anti-microRNA oligonucleotides increases potency of microRNA inhibition.
Bioorg Med Chem
; 29: 115894, 2021 01 01.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33290908
ABSTRACT
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNAs that play a fundamental role in gene regulation. Deregulation of miRNA expression has a strong correlation with disease and antisense oligonucleotides that bind and inhibit miRNAs associated with disease have therapeutic potential. Current research on the chemical modification of anti-miRNA oligonucleotides (anti-miRs) is focused on alterations of the phosphodiester-ribose backbone to improve nuclease resistance and binding affinity to miRNA strands. Here we describe a structure-guided approach for modification of the 3'-end of anti-miRs by screening for modifications compatible with a nucleotide-binding pocket present on human Argonaute2 (hAgo2). We computationally screened a library of 190 triazole-modified nucleoside analogs for complementarity to the t1A-binding pocket of hAgo2. Seventeen top scoring triazoles were then incorporated into the 3' end of anti-miR21 and potency was evaluated for each in a cell-based assay for anti-miR activity. Four triazole-modified anti-miRs showed higher potency than anti-miR21 bearing a 3' adenosine. In particular, a triazole-modified nucleoside bearing an ester substituent imparted a nine-fold and five-fold increase in activity for both anti-miR21 and anti-miR122 at 300 and 5 nM, respectively. The ester group was shown to be critical as a similar carboxylic acid and amide were inactive. Furthermore, anti-miR 3' end modification with triazole-modified nucleoside analogs improved resistance to snake venom phosphodiesterase, a 3'-exonuclease. Thus, the modifications described here are good candidates for improvement of anti-miR activity.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Oligonucleótidos
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Triazoles
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Oligonucleótidos Antisentido
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MicroARNs
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Ésteres
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Proteínas Argonautas
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Bioorg Med Chem
Asunto de la revista:
BIOQUIMICA
/
QUIMICA
Año:
2021
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos