An RNA oligonucleotide corresponding to the polypyrimidine region of the rat alpha 1(I) procollagen promoter forms a stable triplex and inhibits transcription.

In this report we demonstrate formation of a triplex structure by an antiparallel RNA oligonucleotide corresponding to the 21 bp polypurine-pyrimidine stretch from -141 to -162 of the rat alpha 1(I) procollagen promoter with a Kd of 0.1-0.2 microM. The formation of triplexes by the triplex forming oligoribonucleotide (ORN) was also observed under physiological conditions. In vitro transcription run-off experiments showed that triplex formation results in inhibited transcription from the rat alpha 1(I) procollagen gene. Our results demonstrate a novel approach for down-regulation of procollagen gene transcription in vivo.