Abstract

Peptide nucleic acids (PNA) are artificial structural mimics of nucleic acids capable of sequence specific hybridization to both RNA and DNA. Thus they have obvious potential as gene targeting agents for drug discovery approaches. An overview with emphasis on recent progress on RNA “interference” (antisense), targeting of duplex DNA and gene targeted repair and transcription interference using PNA, as well as on PNA delivery and potential PNA anti-infectives is given.

Keywords: Gene targeting, antisense, PNA, delivery, transcription