Peptide Nucleotide Acid (PNA)

Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNAs) are synthetic DNA, or RNA mimics that consist of nucleobases attached to a polyamide backbone. PNAs can bind to both DNA and RNA targets in a sequence-specific manner to form PNA/DNA and PNA/RNA duplex structures. The ability of PNAs to sequence-specifically recognize duplex DNA has attracted considerable interest because of their unparalleled ability to invade double-stranded DNA. Besides, PNA confers remarkable resistance to DNases and proteinases. PNA provides a powerful tool to study the mechanism of transcription and an innovative strategy to regulate target gene expression, antisense, antigene agents, molecular probes, and biosensors.

LifeTein provides custom PNA oligos, unlabeled or labeled by fluorescent dyes or other modifications. The PNA oligos can be conjugated to peptides for additional functionality. PNA oligomers can be labeled at 5' and/or 3' end. These labels are available upon request: fluorophores including FAM, FITC, Alexa Fluor dyes, Atto dyes, Cyanine dyes (cy3, cy5, cy7), QSY9, Dylight, quenchers (BHQ, Dabcyl), Acridine, Alkyne (DBCO or Pentynoic acid), Azide, Biotin, Maleimide, Myristol, Palmitic acid, et al. Contact us if your modification is not on the list.

PNA Applications

• Microarrays and biosensors: PNA microarray combined with PCR could detect genetically modified organisms.
• PCR clamping and artificial restriction enzyme: PNA clamp complementary to wild type sequence hybridizes specifically with wild type and blocks its amplification while allowing amplification of mutant sequence of the imperfect match.
• Imaging probes and FISH: The fluorescent dye-conjugated PNA can bind to DNA or RNA quickly, even under low salt.
• Antisense and antigene drugs: PNA can bind to a complementary sequence of mRNA and change its function. PNA can break up DNA duplexes and form PNA/DNA triplex or double duplexes without denaturing the DNA duplex.
• miRNA inhibitors: PNA binds complementary RNA more strongly than DNA or RNA does. PNA miRNA inhibitors can be conjugated to cell-penetrating peptides without the need for transfection reagents for cell entry.
• Double strand DNA invasion and capture: Because of its uncharged polyamide backbone, PNA can hybridize to negatively charged DNA or RNA without electrostatic repulsion.

The PNA length of 10~30 mer is used for most applications because Tm of PNA is higher than that of DNA. A longer PNA with a high purine content (>60%) can reduce water solubility. However, we can add additional lysines, O linker AEEA, E linker, or X linker to increase the water solubility. Please avoid the self-complementary sequences such as inverse repeats, hairpin forming, and palindromic sequences because PNA/PNA interaction is stronger than PNA/DNA interaction.