Design of Antisense (Complementary) Peptides as Selective Inhibitors of Cytokine Interleukin-1

摘要

Double-helical DMA comprises two complementary oligo-nucleotide chains Traditionally, one of these chains, the sense strand, defines the genetic code, whilst the complementary chain, the antisense strand, provides the means of propagating that code. However, the relationship between sense and anti-sense strands of DNA now appears to be more complex. In 1984 Blalock and Smith observed that antisense strand DNA was able to code for peptides, known as antisense peptides, which are the hydropathic complement of those sense peptides coded for in the normal way by sense strand DNA. Subsequently, evidence has been accumulating to suggest that antisense and corresponding sense peptides may interact specifically, with important biological consequences.