Anti-gene technologies are broadly defined here as modern strategies for modulation of gene expression which encompass decreasing as well as increasing the expression of the target gene by interfering with its transcription and/or translation. Hence, anti-gene, i.e. acting against the gene's programmed course of expression.

Applications and research directions

• functional genomics
  • dissecting signaling and metabolic pathways
  • determining gene functions
  • develop pathway analysis tools for systems biology
• nucleic-acid based therapeutics
  • inhibiting proliferative and survival abilities of cancer cells
  • fighting pathogens by killing them directly or indirectly by boosting organism defenses
  • promoting regenerative abilities of damaged tissues
  • etablishing or restoring normal regulatory processes in destabilized systems

Technologies

• DNA-directed
  • homologous recombination
  • triple-helix-forming oligodeoxynucleotides (TFO)
    • peptide nucleic acid (PNA)
• mRNA-directed
  • antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (AODN)
    • morpholino
    • peptide nucleic acid (PNA)
    • locked nucleic acid (LNA)
    • phosphorothioates
    • other chemical modifications and their combinations
  • RNA interference
    • siRNA
    • dsRNA
    • esiRNA
    • shRNA
    • siRNA pools
  • ribozymes
    • hammerhead
    • hairpin
    • others
  • DNAzymes