ENDEVAN: European network on the development of artificial nucleases

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 99.0732

Key words (English)

Oligonucleotides; nuclease mimicks; DNA analogues; RNA hydrolysis;
Education; Training; Scientific Research; Social Aspects

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: RTN1-1999-00008

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 4.1.1 Research training networks

Short description (English)

See abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
Universität Bern
Departement für Chemie und Biochemie

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Coordinator: UCAM, Cambridge (UK)

Abstract (English)

This proposal is part of a long-term strategy aimed at developing drugs which act catalytically (thus as artificial enzymes) to interfere with the expression of specific genes. It is aimed at developing a class of artificial nuclease enzymes designed to interrupt the expression of specific genes using the antisense approach. Artificial nucleases are potentially valuable therapeutic agents, allowing in principle the regulation of the expression of a single gene. The general area of antisense therapy is of great topical interest: several antisense compounds have reached the final stages of clinical trials, and first of them has recently come on the market. The design of artificial enzymes to work in vitro major problems of molecular recognition: recognition of the substrate, which is the basis of substrate specificity an allow a specific substrate to be selected from a mixture in solution; a recognition of the transition state -the basis of efficient catalysis of the target reaction. We have specific proposals for the solution of both of these problems. The proposed Network brings together groups from six different EU countries who together offer a comprehensive range of complementary, relevant expertise. Three groups are expert in the synthesis of naturally occurring and modified nucleic acids, especially modified oligonucleotides stable to nucleases which are known to bind to DNA and RNA: two groups have very new systems which bind to DNA and RNA, and four groups offer intensive and wide-ranging expertise in the area of biocatalysis.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 99.0732