内容简介：
【简介】 The Nucleic Acid Center combines the potential of synthetic organic chemistry and the encoded recognition pattern of nucleic acids in novel and innovative ways. Novel insights into the structural characteristics of the nucleic acids, introduction of hitherto unknown classes of nucleic acid drugs, development of novel biotechnological tools, and creative innovations within the bio-chip and nanotechnology areas are among the anticipated outputs.
The research unit
Synthetic Bioorganic Chemistry
The research groups of professor Jesper Wengel, Associate Professor Poul Nielsen and Associate Professor Erik B. Pedersen are directed towards the synthesis and applications of modified oligonucleotides (DNA-analogues) e.g. C-branched oligonucleotides and conformationally restricted DNA-analogues such as the recently discovered LNA (Locked Nucleic Acid), which compared to all other known DNA-analogues displays unprecedented binding affinity towards complementary DNA and RNA. The construction of nucleic acid derivatives modelling and targeting RNA secondary structures is another prime subject as well as the synthesis and biological evaluation of small molecules (nucleosides, nucleotides and DNA/RNA intercalators) and their conjugated analogues.
Biomolecular NMR Spectroscopy and Molecular Modelling
The NMR group is headed by Michael Petersen. The focus in this group is on the application of NMR spectroscopy and molecular modelling to study nucleic acids and nucleic acid-protein complexes. Specifically, they aim to understand the sequence specific recognition of nucleic acids and nucleic acid interactions. In this manner, they hope to be able to contribute to the rational design of nucleic acid analogues. During the past few years, the research has been focused on delineating the structural properties of LNA and "-L-LNA modified nucleic acids. A more detailed account of results can be found here.
RNA Molecular Biology
The RNA group at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is headed by associate professor Stephen Douthwaite and focus on the effects of modified nucleotides on the folding and function of RNA molecules, as well as on the detection of modified bases in rRNA and the interference of physiologically important RNA-protein interactions.
