In one aspect, a chemically-modified siRNA for reversible photo-controlled gene silencing is provided. In one embodiment, one or more nucleotides the sense strand of the siRNA are replaced with a spacer comprising an azobenzene or derivative thereof. The azobenzene or derivative thereof undergoes isomerization between the trans-configuration and the cis-configuration in the presence of light from a light source and the siRNA optionally has higher RNA silencing activity when the azobenzene or derivative thereof is in the trans-configuration compared to the cis-configuration. In other aspects, the chemically-modified siRNAs may, for example, be useful as both therapeutics and research tools.
在一个方面,提供了一种用于可逆光控
基因沉默的
化学修饰siRNA。在一种实施例中,siRNA的正义链中的一个或多个核苷酸被替换为包含
偶氮苯或其衍
生物的间隔物。
偶氮苯或其衍
生物在光源的存在下在顺式构型和顺式构型之间发生异构化,而siRNA在
偶氮苯或其衍
生物处于顺式构型时具有更高的RNA沉默活性,相对于其处于顺式构型时的沉默活性。在其他方面,这些
化学修饰的siRNA可以作为治疗和研究工具。