Title: peptide nucleic acid
1peptide nucleic acid
PNAs, or peptide nucleic acids, is an analogue of
oligonucleotide in which sugar-phosphate backbone
has been replaced by a polyamide chain. Due to
the unique backbone of PNA, it can be used in
same applications as conventional DNA/RNA.
Comparing with DNA, PNAs are neutral in charge,
chemically more stable and resistant to DNases
and proteases, as well as remaining high sequence
specificity, binding activity and lower salt
sensitivity. PNAs have been widely used in
molecular diagnostics and therapeutics