Inhibition of HIV-1 replication by a new type of circular dumbbell RNA/DNA chimeric oligonucleotides.

We have designed a new class of oligonucleotides, "dumbbell RNA/DNA chimeric phosphodiesters," containing two alkyl loop structures with RNA/DNA base pairs [sense (RNA) and antisense (DNA)] in the double helical stem. The reaction of nicked (NDRDON-gag-AUG) and circular (CDRDON-gag-AUG) dumbbell RNA/DNA chimeric oligonucleotides with RNaseH gave the corresponding antisense phosphodiester oligonucleotide together with the sense RNA cleavage products. The liberated antisense phosphodiester oligodeoxynucleotide was bound to the target RNA. The circular dumbbell RNA/DNA chimeric oligoncleotide showed more nuclease resistance and cellular uptake than the linear antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide (S-ODN-gag-AUG) and nicked dumbbell RNA/DNA chimeric oligonucleotide. The CDRDON-gag-AUG with an AUG initiation codon sequence, as the target of the HIV-1 gag-gene (779-801), was synthesized and tested for inhibitory effects using peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The circular dumbbell RNA/DNA chimeric oligonucleotide (CDRDON-gag-AUG) showed highly inhibitory effects compared to the antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotide (S-ODN-gag-AUG), indicating sequence-specific inhibition of HIV-1 replication without the inhibition of reverse transcriptase and/or the viral entry process such as antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotides.