Antisense methods to modulate pre-mRNA splicing

Methods Mol Biol. 2014:1126:271-83. doi: 10.1007/978-1-62703-980-2_20.

Abstract

The dynamic process of pre-mRNA splicing is regulated by combinatorial control exerted by overlapping cis-elements that are unique to every exon and its flanking intronic sequences. Splicing cis-elements are usually 4-8-nucleotide-long linear motifs that furnish interaction sites for specific proteins. Secondary and higher-order RNA structures exert an additional layer of control by providing accessibility to cis-elements. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) that block splicing cis-elements and/or affect RNA structure have been shown to modulate alternative splicing in vivo. Consistently, ASO-based strategies have emerged as a powerful tool for therapeutic manipulation of aberrant splicing in pathological conditions. Here we describe the application of an ASO-based approach for the enhanced production of the full-length mRNA of SMN2 in spinal muscular atrophy patient cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Introns
  • Molecular Biology / methods*
  • Muscular Atrophy, Spinal / genetics*
  • Muscular Atrophy, Spinal / pathology
  • Oligoribonucleotides, Antisense / genetics
  • RNA Precursors / genetics*
  • RNA Precursors / ultrastructure
  • RNA Splicing / genetics
  • Survival of Motor Neuron 2 Protein / genetics

Substances

  • Oligoribonucleotides, Antisense
  • RNA Precursors
  • SMN2 protein, human
  • Survival of Motor Neuron 2 Protein