Synthetic siRNA targeting human papillomavirus 16 E6: a perspective on in vitro nanotherapeutic approaches.

High-risk human papillomaviruses infect skin and mucosa, causing approximately 5% of cancers worldwide. In the search for targeted nanotherapeutic approaches, siRNAs against the viral E6 transcript have been molecules of interest but have not yet seen successful translation into the clinic. By reviewing the past approximately 15 years of in vitro literature, we identify the need for siRNA validation protocols which concurrently evaluate ranges of key treatment parameters as well as characterize downstream process restoration in a methodical, quantitative manner and demonstrate their implementation using our own data.

C2'-F Stereoconfiguration As a Puckering Switch for Base Stacking at the Dinucleotide Level.

Fluorine configuration at C2' of the bis(2'-fluorothymidine) dinucleotide is demonstrated to drive intramolecular base stacking. 2'-β F-Configuration drastically reduces stacking compared to the 2'-α series. Hence, base stacking emerges as being tunable by the C2'-F stereoconfiguration through dramatic puckering variations scrutinized by NMR and natural bond orbital analysis.

Carbocyclic C-C Bond Formation: Intramolecular Radical Ring Closure to Yield Diastereomerically Pure (7'S-Me- or 7'R-Me-) Carba-LNA Nucleotide Analogs.

In light of the impressive gene-silencing properties of carba-LNA modified oligo DNA and RNA, both in antisense RNA and siRNA approaches, which have been confirmed as proof-of-concept for biochemical applications in post-transcriptional gene silencing, we envision the true potential of carba-LNA modifications to be revealed soon. Herein we provide detailed protocols for synthesis of carba-LNA-A, -G, - C, and -T nucleosides on a medium/large scale (gram scale), as well as important guidelines for incorporation of these modified carba-LNAs into DNA or RNA oligonucleotides. Creation of a stereoselective C-C bond during the 5-exo radical intramolecular cyclization involves trapping of a C2' radical intermediate intramolecularly by the vicinal double bond of a C4'-tethered ─CH -CH═CH group.

How RNase HI (Escherichia coli) promoted site-selective hydrolysis works on RNA in duplex with carba-LNA and LNA substituted antisense strands in an antisense strategy context?

A detailed kinetic study of 36 single modified AON-RNA heteroduplexes shows that substitution of a single native nucleotide in the antisense strand (AON) by locked nucleic acid (LNA) or by diastereomerically pure carba-LNA results in site-dependent modulation of RNase H promoted cleavage of complementary mRNA strands by 2 to 5 fold at 5'-GpN-3' cleavage sites, giving up to 70% of the RNA cleavage products. The experiments have been performed using RNase HI of Escherichia coli. The 2nd best cleavage site, being the 5'-ApN-3' sites, cleaves up to 23%, depending upon the substitution site in 36 isosequential complementary AONs.

A minute amount of s-puckered sugars is sufficient for (6-4) photoproduct formation at the dinucleotide level.

The di-2'-α-fluoro analogue of thymidylyl(3',5')thymidine, synthesized to probe the effect of a minimum amount of S conformer on the photoreactivity of dinucleotides, is endowed with only 3% and 8% of S sugar conformation at its 5'- and 3'-end, respectively. This analogue gives rise to the (6-4) photoproduct as efficiently as the dithymine dinucleotide (74% and 66% at the 5'- and 3'-end, respectively) under 254 nm. Our results suggest that the 5'-N, 3'-S conformer gives rise to the (6-4) photoproduct.