Volume 8, Issue 3 pp. 373-413
Review

Exploring the Role of Chirality in Nucleic Acid Recognition

Daniele D'Alonzo

Corresponding Author

Daniele D'Alonzo

Dipartimento di Chimica Organica e Biochimica, Università di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte Sant'Angelo, via Cinthia, 4, I-80126 Napoli, (phone/fax: +39 081 674119)

Dipartimento di Chimica Organica e Biochimica, Università di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte Sant'Angelo, via Cinthia, 4, I-80126 Napoli, (phone/fax: +39 081 674119)Search for more papers by this author
Annalisa Guaragna

Annalisa Guaragna

Dipartimento di Chimica Organica e Biochimica, Università di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte Sant'Angelo, via Cinthia, 4, I-80126 Napoli, (phone/fax: +39 081 674119)

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Giovanni Palumbo

Giovanni Palumbo

Dipartimento di Chimica Organica e Biochimica, Università di Napoli Federico II, Complesso Universitario Monte Sant'Angelo, via Cinthia, 4, I-80126 Napoli, (phone/fax: +39 081 674119)

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First published: 14 March 2011
Citations: 42

Abstract

The study of the base-pairing properties of nucleic acids with sugar moieties in the backbone belonging to the L-series (β-L-DNA, β-L-RNA, and their analogs) are reviewed. The major structural factors underlying the formation of stable heterochiral complexes obtained by incorporation of modified nucleotides into natural duplexes, or by hybridization between homochiral strands of opposite sense of chirality are highlighted. In addition, the perspective use of L-nucleic acids as candidates for various therapeutic applications, or as tools for both synthetic biology and etiology-oriented investigations on the structure and stereochemistry of natural nucleic acids is discussed.

Graphical Abstract

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