Chimeric antisense oligonucleotides of arabinofuranose analogue and deoxyribose nucleotides

Abstract

The present invention relates to novel oligonucleotide chimera used as therapeutic agents to selectively prevent gene transcription and expression in a sequence-specific manner. In particular, this invention is directed to the selective inhibition of protein biosynthesis via antisense strategy using oligonucleotides constructed from arabinonucleotide or modified arabinonucleotide residues, flanking a series of deoxyribose nucleotide residues of variable length. Particularly this invention relates to the use of antisense oligonucleotides constructed from arabinonucleotide or modified arabinonucleotide residues, flanking a series of deoxyribose nucleotide residues of variable length, to hybridize to complementary RNA such as cellular messenger RNA, viral RNA, etc.; More particularly this invention relates to the use of antisense oligonucleotides constructed from arabinonucleotide or modified arabinonucleotide residues, flanking a series of deoxyribose nucleotide residues of variable length, to hybridize to and induce cleavage of (via RNaseH activation) the complementary RNA.