This study describes a strategy to improve the therapeutic profile of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs). ASOs are achieving clinical success, but some clinical trials continue to reveal toxicities that complicate use in patients. This paper reveals a relatively simple strategy for modifying ASOs to reduce unfavorable interactions with cellular proteins and thereby lessen the likelihood that major toxicities will be encountered in patients. By precisely tuning the chemical properties of ASOs, the authors reveal several case studies for improved activity. These results may lead to a new generation in ASOs that are similar in chemical make-up and biological activity to current ASOs but possess improved properties that will enhance their clinical value.
NAR’s Breakthrough Articles present high-impact studies answering long-standing questions in the field of nucleic acids research and/or opening up new areas and mechanistic hypotheses for investigation. These articles are chosen by the Editors on the recommendation of Editorial Board Members and Referees. Articles are accompanied by a brief synopsis explaining the findings of the paper and where they fit in the broader context of nucleic acids research. They represent the very best papers published at NAR.
It is essential for cell survival that DNA damage response proteins rapidly mobilize to DNA lesions. Importantly, these proteins must also be excluded from binding to undamaged chromatin. The mechanism of this exclusion is a long-standing question. This study by Vidi and coworkers demonstrates that DNA damage increases the diffusion speed of 53BP1, a key factor that binds to DNA double-strand breaks and regulates their repair. This increased diffusion speed results from reversal of sequestration by NuMA, a structural protein in the cell nucleus. This mechanism of reversible sequestration, which may extend to other DNA damage response and repair
proteins, likely impacts the response to agents used in cancer treatment as well as physiological DNA repair in cells of the immune system. As predicted from the authors’ model, NuMA expression levels have prognostic value for breast cancer patients.
The VMH integrates the metabolic reconstructions of human (Recon3D) and gut microbes (AGORA) representing a vast and unique knowledge base for metabolic pathways. Both resources have a shared nomenclature which allows exploring potential interactions between gut microbes and host metabolism. These reconstructions can also be used for metabolic modeling experiments. The VMH functions as a knowledge hub. It interlinks “Human metabolism”, “Gut microbiome”, “Disease”, “Nutrition”, and “ReconMaps”, allowing for cross-linked analysis. Emphasis has been placed on connecting VMH’s entities with external resources facilitating access to further metabolic, genetic, clinical, nutritional, and toxicological information. The VMH enables the visualization of simulation and experimental data in the context of the human metabolic network. Seven comprehensive Google-like maps of human metabolism are available in the “ReconMaps” resource.
