Locked nucleic acid containing heteropolymers and related methods

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods of replacing nucleotides in target nucleic acid sequences using DNA-LNA chimeras. The method of the present invention provides for replacing a first nucleotide in a target sequence by exposing the target sequence to a DNA-LNA heteropolymer and thereby replacing the first nucleotide with a second nucleotide. The invention also features the DNA-LNA chimeras themselves as well as methods of making them.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. ______ arising from conversion of non-provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 879,310, (entitled LOCKED NUCLEIC ACID CONTAINING HETEROPOLYMERS AND RELATED METHODS, and filed on Jun. 12, 2001), to a provisional application by petition filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on May 8, 2002, the specification of which in herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to the fields of nucleic acid chimeras and methods of making single base changes in nucleic acid sequences. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods of using DNA-LNA (locked nucleic acid) heteropolymers to make single nucleotide base changes in target nucleic acid. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Methods of changing one or more nucleotides in a nucleic acid sequence are useful in several applications, includin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0028] As another advantage related to the accessibility of target sequences, LNA sequences are particularly useful where the target sequence is difficult or impossible to access by unmodified oligonucleotide sequences due to the rapid formation of stable intramolecular structures such as those occurring in rRNA, tRNA, snRNA, and scRNA. LNAs present a distinct advantage over unmodified oligonucleotides in that the steric bulkiness and rigidity of the bicyclic component of LNAs hinder such intramolecular folding, thereby increasing the accessibility and exposure to single point mutations of 1-2 base pair sequences.

[0029] Because of the enhanced stability and thus, affinity, of LNA complexes, single mismatches in LNA duplexes cause considerable drops in thermal stability and result in LNA duplexes' heightened ability to discriminate single base pair differences compared to conventional RNA-DNA or DNA-DNA duplexes. Heightened discrimination between single base pair differences is of paramount importance when isolating a single point mutation and the sequence specificity of 1 or 2 base pairs.

[0030] As a further advantage, LNA sequences capture target sequences via strand displacement in which the LNA sequence selectively binds to its complementary target sequence in double stranded DNA or RNA such that the second strand of the double strand is displaced. See, e.g., PCT WO 99 / 14226. Unlike colony or plaque hybridization, which frequently require prior denaturation steps, the present invention is able to detect and isolate intact double stranded DNA. The strand displacement mechanism of the present invention also obviates the labor intensive, multi-step washing procedures required of colony and plaque hybridization techniques.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, the success of conventional homologous recombination in animal models has been limited in plant cells due to the low frequency of homologous recombination.

Moreover, this method also suffers from complications of random insertion in the absence of correct sequence homology.

Triple-helix forming oligonucleotides coupled to cross linking agents have been used with limited success to alter DNA sequences.

While these strategies have been successful in animal models, little is known about the use of single point gene modification or the introduction of CMVs in plant systems.

Studies suggest this lower success rate may be due to the differences in efficiencies of homologous pairing, strand transfer, or mismatch repair between mammalian and plant cells.

Indeed, the low frequency of specificity remains a serious limitation in the realm of therapeutics.

Severe difficulties arise under conditions where the single point mutation is inaccessible due to intrastrand folding and intermolecular conformational stabilities.

To date, while LNAs have been developed as blocking agents for translation and transcription in vitro and in vivo, as sequence specific inhibitors such as PCR clamping, as well as in various antisense therapies, the unique capabilities of LNA have not been harnessed for use in the repair of single point mutations.

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