P. Brodin et al., Optimization of alternate-strand triple helix formation at the 5 '-TpA-3 'and 5 '-ApT-3 ' junctions, NUCL ACID R, 27(15), 1999, pp. 3029-3034
Alternate-strand triple helix formation was optimized at the two junction s
teps, the 5'-TpA-3' and 5'-ApT-3' junctions, Footprint experiments, gel ret
ardation assays and thermal denaturation measures on a sequence appropriate
ly designed with two adjacent alternate-strand polypurine tracts points out
that the addition of an adenine residue and the removal of one nucleotide
should facilitate the crossing strands at the 5'-TpA-3' junction and at the
5'-ApT-3' junction, respectively. These results provide a 'switch code' fo
r the construction of alternate-strand triple helix forming oligonucleotide
s which open new possibilities for extending the range of applications of a
ntigene strategy.