INHIBITION OF HIGH-AFFINITY BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR BINDING BYOLIGONUCLEOTIDES

Oligonucleotides can be used to inhibit the binding of basic fibroblas t growth factor to cells. Though standard phosphodiester oligonucleoti des show a slight inhibition of binding, the oligonucleotides with pho sphorothioate internucleoside linkages have inhibition levels equivale nt to that of the polyanion heparin. Variations in sequence of the oli gonucleotides does lead to differences in the inhibitory action of the oligonucleotides, This inhibition of basic fibroblast growth factor b y phosphorothioate oligonucleotides may account for much of the publis hed data on inhibition of various genes by proposed antisense oligonuc leotides and needs to be taken into account when considering the mecha nism of action of oligonucleotides in biological systems.