RESUMO
Factors that govern the specificity of an antisense oligonucleotide (ON) for its target RNA include accessibility of the targeted RNA to ON binding, stability of ON/RNA complexes in cells, and susceptibility of the ON/RNA complex to RNase H cleavage. ON specificity is generally proposed to be dependent on its length. To date, virtually all previous antisense experiments have used 12-25 nt-long ONs. We explored the antisense activity and specificity of short (7 and 8 nt) ONs modified with C-5 propyne pyrimidines and phosphorothioate internucleotide linkages. Gene-selective, mismatch sensitive, and RNase H-dependent inhibition was observed for a heptanucleotide ON. We demonstrated that the flanking sequences of the target RNA are a major determinant of specificity. The use of shorter ONs as antisense agents has the distinct advantage of simplified synthesis. These results may lead to a general, cost-effective solution to the development of antisense ONs as therapeutic agents.