Peptide nucleic acids

Abstract

A novel class of compounds, known as peptide nucleic acids, bind complementary ssDNA and RNA strands more strongly than a corresponding DNA. The peptide nucleic acids generally comprise ligands such as naturally occurring DNA bases attached to a peptide backbone through a suitable linker.

1 - 33 . (canceled)  
     
     
         34 . A method of treating living cells, said method comprising extracellularly administering to said cells a polyamide nucleic acid oligomer containing neutral amide backbone linkages which is complementary to a target nucleic acid, under conditions wherein said oligomer engenders a biological response associated with said target in a sequence specific manner, said administration being in vivo.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said method comprises detecting said biological response.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said cells are within a mammal.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said polypeptide participates in cell signaling.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said biological response is a modification of polypeptide expression.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said modification is a reduction in polypeptide expression.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said biological response is characterized by a physiological change in a living organism.  
     
     
         41 . A method of treating a mammal, said method comprising: 
 a) extracellularly administering to said mammal a polyamide nucleic acid oligomer containing neutral amide backbone linkages, which is complementary to a target nucleic acid, under conditions wherein said oligomer engenders a biological response associated with said target in a sequence specific manner, and    b) detecting said biological response.    
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said polypeptide participates in cell signaling.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said biological response is a modification of polypeptide expression.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said modification is a reduction in polypeptide expression.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said biological response is characterized by a physiological change in said mammal.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said administration is an intraperitoneal administration.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said administration is an intraperitoneal administration.  
     
     
         48 . A method comprising administering to living cells in vivo a polyamide nucleic acid oligomer that contains neutral amide backbone linkages and is complementary to a target nucleic acid, under conditions wherein said oligomer engenders a biological response associated with said target in a sequence specific manner.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said method comprises detecting said biological response.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said cells are within a mammal.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said oligomer has sequence specificity for a nucleic acid sequence that regulates the expression of or encodes a polypeptide.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51  wherein said polypeptide participates in cell signaling.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said biological response is a modification of polypeptide expression.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein said modification is a reduction in polypeptide expression.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said biological response is characterized by a physiological change in a living organism.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said administration is an intraperitoneal administration.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said administration is extracellular.  
     
     
         58 . A method comprising: 
 administering to a mammal a polyamide nucleic acid oligomer that contains neutral amide backbone linkages and is complementary to a target nucleic acid, under conditions wherein said oligomer engenders a biological response associated with said target in a sequence specific manner, and    detecting said biological response.    
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein said oligomer has sequence specificity for a nucleic acid sequence that regulates the expression of or encodes a polypeptide.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein said polypeptide participates in cell signaling.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein said biological response is a modification of polypeptide expression.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein said modification is a reduction in polypeptide expression.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein said biological response is characterized by a physiological change in said mammal.  
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein said administration is an intraperitoneal administration.  
     
     
         65 . A method comprising administering to a organism a polyamide nucleic acid oligomer that contains neutral amide backbone linkages and is complementary to a target nucleic acid, under conditions wherein said oligomer specifically binds to DNA or RNA deriving from a gene in said organism.  
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65  further comprising detecting expression of said gene following said administration.  
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 65  wherein said organism is a mammal.  
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 65  wherein said DNA or RNA regulates the expression of or encodes a polypeptide.  
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68  wherein said polypeptide participates in cell signaling.  
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 65  wherein said administration modifies polypeptide expression in said organism.  
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 70  wherein said modification is a reduction in polypeptide expression.  
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 65  wherein said administration is an intraperitoneal administration.  
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 65  wherein said administration produces a biological response in said organism.