Abstract
A polyamide nucleic acid (PNA) was designed by detaching the deoxyribose phosphate backbone of DNA in a computer model and replacing it with an achiral polyamide backbone. On the basis of this model, oligomers consisting of thymine-linked aminoethylglycyl units were prepared. These oligomers recognize their complementary target in double-stranded DNA by strand displacement The displacement is made possible by the extraordinarily high stability of the PNA-DNA hybrids. The results show that the backbone of DNA can be replaced by a polyamide, with the resulting oligomer retaining base-specific hybridization.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Science |
Volume | 254 |
Issue number | 5037 |
Pages (from-to) | 1497-1500 |
ISSN | 0036-8075 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1991 |