1 research outputs found
Design of a “Mini” Nucleic Acid Probe for Cooperative Binding of an RNA-Repeated Transcript Associated with Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1
Toxic
RNAs containing expanded trinucleotide repeats are the cause
of many neuromuscular disorders, one being myotonic dystrophy type
1 (DM1). DM1 is triggered by CTG-repeat expansion in the 3′-untranslated
region of the <i>DMPK</i> gene, resulting in a toxic gain
of RNA function through sequestration of MBNL1 protein, among others.
Herein, we report the development of a relatively short miniPEG-Îł
peptide nucleic acid probe, two triplet repeats in length, containing
terminal pyrene moieties, that is capable of binding rCUG repeats
in a sequence-specific and selective manner. The newly designed probe
can discriminate the pathogenic rCUG<sup>exp</sup> from the wild-type
transcript and disrupt the rCUG<sup>exp</sup>–MBNL1 complex.
The work provides a proof of concept for the development of relatively
short nucleic acid probes for targeting RNA-repeat expansions associated
with DM1 and other related neuromuscular disorders