ABSTRACT

Antisense nucleic acids are single-stranded RNAs or DNAs that are complementary to the sequence of their target genes. Antisense agents can be thought of as inhibitors of the intermediary metabolism of RNA. This process begins with transcription of pre-messenger RNA and ends when the mature mRNA is used to produce a protein and the RNA is degraded. The antisense agents have the potential to block any of these steps-transcription, RNA processing, mRNA transport, translation or mRNA stability (Fig. 10.1).