ANTISENSE OLIGODEOXYRIBONUCLEOTIDES Meaning and
Definition
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Antisense Oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ASOs) are short synthetic strands of DNA or RNA molecules that are designed to bind to specific target RNA sequences in order to modulate gene expression. These molecules are referred to as "antisense" because they are complementary in sequence to the target RNA, enabling them to bind to the RNA and prevent it from functioning.
ASOs are chemically modified versions of natural DNA or RNA molecules, allowing for improved stability, enhanced cellular uptake, and increased binding affinity. They are typically around 15-25 nucleotides in length and can be modified with various chemical groups to optimize their properties.
When ASOs bind to their target RNA, they can exert different regulatory effects depending on their design. One common mechanism is to inhibit protein synthesis by blocking the interaction between the target RNA and the ribosomes responsible for protein production. This prevents the production of specific proteins encoded by the targeted gene.
ASOs can also trigger RNA degradation by recruiting cellular enzymes that break down the bound RNA molecule. Additionally, ASOs can be used to modulate splicing events, influencing alternative exon inclusion or exclusion to produce different RNA and protein variants.
Antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides have emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of various diseases, including genetic disorders, viral infections, and cancer. Their ability to specifically target and modulate gene expression makes them a valuable tool in both research and clinical applications.
Common Misspellings for ANTISENSE OLIGODEOXYRIBONUCLEOTIDES
- zntisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides
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Etymology of ANTISENSE OLIGODEOXYRIBONUCLEOTIDES
The word "antisense" originates from the prefix "anti-" meaning opposite or against, and "sense" referring to the genetic sense or the direction of reading genetic information. It was introduced in the late 1970s to describe a new concept in molecular biology. "Oligodeoxyribonucleotides" is a compound word composed of "oligo-" meaning few or small, "deoxyribo-" referring to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and "nucleotides" which are the building blocks of DNA. Together, "antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides" describes short DNA sequences that are complementary to specific target genes or mRNA (messenger RNA) molecules, used to inhibit or modulate the expression of those genes.
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