RNA interference with 2',4'-bridged nucleic acid analogues
In this study, a number of 20,40-BNA- and 20,40-BNANC-modified siRNAs were designed and synthesized. Their thermal stability, nuclease resistance and gene silencing properties against cultured mammalian cells were evaluated and compared with those of natural siRNAs. The 20,40-BNA- and 20,40-BNANC-modified siRNAs (named siBNA and siBNANC, respectively) showed very high Tm values, were remarkably stable in serum sample and showed promising RNAi properties equal to those exhibited by natural siRNAs. Thermally stable siBNAs composed of slightly modified sense and antisense strands were capable of suppressing gene expression equal to that of natural siRNA. A number of modifications on the sense strand by 20,40-BNA or 20,40-BNANC, either consecutively or separated by natural RNA nucleotides, is tolerable in RNAi machinery. Modifications at the Argonauate (Ago2) cleavage site of the sense strand (9–11th positions from the 50-end of the sense strand) produced variable results depending on siRNA composition. Mostly, modification at the 10th position diminished siRNA activity. In moderately modified siRNAs, modification at the 11th position displayed usual RNAi activity, while modification at the 9th position showed variable results depending on siRNA composition. Click on PDF icon to read more