Modulation of RNA function by oligonucleotides recognizing RNA structure

Publisher Summary Numerous RNA structures are responsible for the regulatory processes, either because they constitute a signal, like the hairpins, or pseudoknots involved in ribosomal frame shifting, or because they are binding sites for proteins, such as the tram-activating responsive ribonucleic acid (RNA) element of the human immunodeficiency virus, whose binding to the viral protein “tat” and cellular proteins allows full-length transcription of the retroviral genome. Selective ligands are able to bind, with high affinity, to such RNA motifs that may serve as a tool for dissecting the molecular mechanisms, in which they are involved. Such ligands might also constitute the prototypes of the therapeutic agents when RNA structures play a role in the expression of the dysfunctional genes or in the multiplication of pathogens. Functional RNA structures— that is, motifs that play a key role in various biological processes —constitute valid targets for the development of genetic tools or therapeutic agents. Many different classes of molecules have been investigated, with respect to their binding properties, to folded RNA regions.