Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) oligomers are synthetic mimic of DNA in which the phosphate backbone is replaced with a peptide-like backbone was invented by Dr. Nielsen, Egholm, Berg, and Buchardt in 1991. This uncharged achiral backbone is made from N-(2-aminoethyl)-glycine units linked by amide bonds. The four standard monomers A, C, G, and T are attached to the backbone by methylene carbonyl linkages. Despite a radical structural change, PNA is capable of sequence-specific binding in a helix form to its complementary DNA or RNA sequence. The unique, "peptide-like" backbone of PNA allows for faster hybridization, enhanced specificity, and stronger binding capabilities become a valuable tools in biomedical research.
Main Features of PNA (Peptide Nucleic Acid)
PNA Oligonucleotides have been used in several applications such as:
Antisense and antigen applications
Antisense technologies
miRNA inhibitors
Molecular probe for diagnostics and detection
SNP detection
Q-PNA probes
LightUp™ probe
Imaging probes and FISH probe (telomere detection)
Molecular biology and gene expression
PCR clamping
Artificial restriction enzyme
Enhanced PCR
Alternative splicing
Northern and Southern blot
PNA-assisted rare cleavage
DNA purification
Microarrays and biosensors