UNVEILING THE GENETIC SYMPHONY OF PNA

Abstract

Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) is a significant advancement in the field of chemistry and genetics. The synthetic nucleic acid analogue known as PNA has attracted considerable interest owing to its distinct characteristics and wide-ranging utility in the fields of molecular biology, diagnostics, and therapies. This abstract presents a comprehensive summary of peptide nucleic acid (PNA), examines the ongoing research directions, and highlights the potential transformative impact of PNA on the domains of molecular biology and genetics.

What is PNA?

Synthetic peptide nucleic acid oligomers have been widely employed in contemporary techniques of molecular biology, particularly in the fields of diagnostic assays and antisense treatments.

Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) has not been observed to arise naturally. Nevertheless, there is a hypothesis suggesting that N-(2-aminoethyl)-glycine (AEG), the fundamental building block of PNA, may have served as a primitive genetic material during the initial phases of life on our planet. The affinity of peptide nucleic acids (PNA) for complementary DNA/RNA is greater and their selectivity in binding is enhanced compared to that of traditional oligonucleotides. In contrast to DNA or RNA, PNA lacks phosphate groups and sugar moieties. PNA exhibits enhanced stability relative to DNA or RNA owing to its intrinsic resistance to nucleases and proteases. The utilization of PNA has been observed in the modification of gene expression, serving as an antigen, antiparasitic, and anticancer agent, as well as an antiviral and antibacterial agent. The integration of nanoscience enables its utilization as both a molecular tool and a biochip for the purpose of DNA sequence detection.

The amplification of peptide nucleic acid (PNA) via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is not practicable due to the absence of recognition by DNA polymerase. Nevertheless, the interaction between peptide nucleic acid (PNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) has the capacity to hinder the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) process. When there are no gene mutations present in the target sequence, the peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probe demonstrates a propensity for binding to the target sequence. This binding event leads to the cessation of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. In contrast, in cases where there is a gene mutation within the specific target sequence, the DNA probe exhibits a propensity for binding to the target region, hence facilitating the process of PCR amplification. An advantageous aspect of utilizing this methodology is the capacity to identify point mutations without the requirement of sequencing the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) output.

What are the applications of PNA and what recent advancements have been made in this field?

In this study, a carbon paste electrode was utilized to create an electrochemical sensor based on peptide nucleic acid (PNA). The objective of this sensor was to detect the hybridization of DNA in a fasting state. To facilitate this detection, a Co(phen)33+ redox mediator was employed.

The identification of cancer using liquid biopsy relies on the monitoring of freely circulating DNA and RNA biomarkers in the bloodstream. This approach has paved the way for revolutionary technologies in cancer detection. Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are known to have a significant
impact on the development of very sensitive biosensors. One notable characteristic of the described detection methodologies is their capacity to recognize target nucleic acids at extremely low concentrations, while still having the power to detect single-base changes. Biosensors serve
as optimal platforms for the development of minimally invasive diagnostic technologies that can offer molecular-level data, hence facilitating the integration of personalized therapy. The physicochemical characteristics of peptide nucleic acid (PNA) render it very suitable for use in biosensing applications, notably in its role as the capture probe. PNA probes exhibit a better effectiveness in capturing complementary target sequences compared to DNA probes, hence enhancing the sensitivity of the experiment. PNA oligomers possess the capability to infiltrate double-stranded DNA through a process referred to as & quot;strand invasion,& quot; resulting in the creation
of a triplex structure.

PNAs have been employed in microarray technology . In contrast to DNA microarrays, PNA microarrays have exceptional sensitivity, selectivity, and durability across diverse environmental conditions. PNA chips exhibit distinctive characteristics that contribute to enhanced precision, favorable repeatability, and extended storage duration. PNA microarrays have been employed in the investigation of pathogen identification and functional genomics. The efficacy of PNA microarrays is mostly contingent upon the characteristics associated with the attachment of PNA molecules to the substrate. The initial step involved the immobilization of PNAs onto gold
electrodes located on the chip surface. Subsequently, deoxyribonucleic acids (DNAs) were introduced into the microarray. Following the process of hybridization with peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), the resulting complexes were further subjected to binding with the intercalating dye. The hybridization events were observed using electrochemical techniques.

Initially, oligomers of Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) were employed as antibacterial agents. Research investigations demonstrated the ability of these antibacterial PNA molecules to impede the growth of E. coli strains with defective outer membranes. Multiple studies have documented the antibacterial efficacy of peptide-PNA conjugates against various bacterial strains, including Campylobacter jejuni, Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Brucella suis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, E. coli, Shigella flexneri, and Streptococcus pyogenes. Within the cellular environment, the antibacterial PNA oligomers serve as antisense molecules, effectively commencing the suppression of translation. This inhibition occurs through two mechanisms: impeding the transit of ribosomes along the mRNA or interfering with the assembly of ribosomes around the translation start site. The impact of antibiotics on the beneficial bacterial community linked with the host is predominantly unfavorable. The development of antibiotics that specifically target bacteria poses considerable challenges, but utilizing the PNA-based technique offers a comparatively simpler solution. The delivery of antibacterial PNA molecules can be accomplished by the construction of vehicles that specifically target bacteria.

Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) possesses inherent stability properties that render it highly promising for applications in drug design, therapies, drug administration, base pair recognition, and numerous other possible avenues. Furthermore, it provides opportunities for further exploration and modification of genetic material on a broader scope.