Inhibition of 5-α-Reductase (TYPE-II) Expression by Antisense 3′-Deoxy-(2′-5′) Oligonucleotide Chimeras

Abstract

ABSTRACT: 3′-Deoxy-(2′-5′) oligonucleotides bind selectively to complementary RNA but not to DNA. 3′-Deoxy-(2′-5′) phosphorothioate ODN chimeras embedded with a short stretch of 3′-5′ phosphorothioate cassette are potent inhibitors of steroid 5-α-reductasc expression with significantly less non-specific interactions in cell culture.

Notes

Cells were treated with ODN's in the presence of a lipid carrier (Lipofectin) for three consecutive days after which the cells were lysed. All the cellular proteins were then separated by SDS-PAGE in a 12% acrylamide gel followed by transfer onto a PVDF membrane. Both 5-α-reductase-II and actin (as an internal control) were detected by electro-chemical luminance Western blotting techniques and results plotted as the ratio of the levels of 5 α-reductase (type-II) to actin.