Cytotoxic G-rich oligodeoxynucleotides: putative protein targets and required sequence motif.

It has recently been shown that certain oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) designed as catalytic DNA molecules (DNAzymes) exhibit potent cytotoxicity independent of RNA-cleavage activity in a number of cell lines. These cytotoxic ODNs all featured a 5' G-rich sequence and induced cell death by a TLR9-independent mechanism. In this study, we examined the sequence and length dependence of ODNs for cytotoxicity.

The DNAzymes Rs6, Dz13, and DzF have potent biologic effects independent of catalytic activity.

DNAzymes are catalytic DNA molecules capable of cleaving RNA substrates and therefore constitute a possible gene-suppression technology. We examined whether the previously reported potency of a DNAzyme targeting c-jun (Dz13) could be improved with judicious use of sequence and chemical modifications. Catalytic activity was measured to establish correlations between catalytic activity and biological potency.

ST64B is a defective bacteriophage in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium DT64 that encodes a functional immunity region capable of mediating phage-type conversion.

The Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) defective bacteriophage ST64B has a putative immunity (immC) region consisting of cI, cro and cII-like genes.

Genomic structure of the Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium DT 64 bacteriophage ST64T: evidence for modular genetic architecture.

The complete sequence of the double-stranded DNA genome of a serotype-converting temperate bacteriophage, ST64T, was determined. The 40,679-bp genomic sequence of ST64T has an overall GC content of 47.5% and was reminiscent of a number of lambdoid phages, in particular, P22.