PNA (Peptide Nucleic Acid)
Peptide nucleic acid, a DNA analogues with the
sugar-phosphate backbone is replaced by pseudopeptide chain
constituted N-(2-aminoethyl) glycine monomers, was discovered
during the 1990s. Based on the molecular structure, the PNA has
special physicochemical properties and many biological
functions.PNA supply a powerful tool to study the mechanism of
transcription, target gene expression, antisense and antigene
agents, molecular probes.
Properties of PNAs
- Higher affinity and greater specificity than
conventional oligonucleotides
- More stable than DNA or RNA as it is resistant to
nucleases and proteases
- PNA can be hydridized at lower salt concentrations than
DNA or RNA
Applications of PNA
- PNA as therapeutic drug Because of their strand
invasion property and being chemically and biologically stable,
PNAs can be used to design gene therapeutic drugs. For
instance, PNA can bind to complementary sequence of mRNA and
change its function.
- Tool for molecular biology and genomics Many sequences
which are not recognised by the restriction enzymes. PNA can
hybridize to negatively charged DNA or RNA without
electrostatic repulsion. At the same time, peptide nucleic
acids can affect the replication, transcription, reverse
transcription and translation of DNA.
- PNA for diagnosis and detection Single-base-pair
mutation or single-nucleotide polymorphism(SNP) analysis is
possible using the PCR technique if PNA is synthesised
targeting the primer binding site.
- PNA as biosensor for nucleic acids Molecular beacons
are molecules with a fluorescent dye at one terminus and a
quencher molecule at the other.
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