Sequence-specific DNA binding ligands, amongst which triple helix forming oligonucleotides are the most efficient as yet, represent promising tools in a number of fields. One of their most promising applications is as antiviral tools: they can specifically target a viral gene, even if it is integrated into the host genome, and be used to specifically inactivate the viral gene or even destroy the cells harboring this gene. However, from science fiction to science there remains a gap; and we are at the moment on the threshold of this fascinating field. Triple Helix Forming Oligonucleotides considers the different aspects of the design and improvement, current or future, of these molecules and their structural analysis, as well as their applications, with special emphasis on the attempts to obtain biological effects of these potentially important tools. What emerges is that the current state of the research is encouraging, and that these molecules are already useful in some biotechnology applications.

Inhalt
Section I: Background and Structural Aspects.- 1 The Antigene Strategy: Progress and Perspectives in Selective Gene Silencing.- 2 Triple-Helix Structure: The Triple-Helix-Forming Oligonucleotide.- 3 Thermodynamic State Diagrams of Oligonucleotide Triple Helices.- 4 Imaging of Triplexes by Electron and Scanning Force Microscopy.- 5 Chemical Modifications of Triple Helix Forming Oligonucleotides.- 6 Triple Helix Formation with Modified Oligonucleotides.- 7 Oligonucleotides as Artificial DNases.- Section II: The Biology of Triple Helices.- 8 Potential Mechanisms of Action.- 9 Oligonucleotide Uptake and Delivery in Tissue Culture Cells.- 10 Triple-Stranded Complexes as Antigene Molecules: Transcription Inhibition Ex Vivo.- 11 Gene-Targeting Triple Helix Forming Purine Oligonucleotides.- 12 DNA Triple Helix as a Tool to Regulate Cytokine Gene Expression.- 13 Genome Modification by Triplex-Forming Oligonucleotides.- 14 Psoralen-Coupled Oligonucleotides: In Vivo Binding and Repair.- 15 Structure and Biology of H DNA.- 16 Triplex-Binding Proteins.- 17 RNA and Triple Helices.- Section III: New Developments and Applications.- 18 Triplexes Involving PNA.- 19 Triple Helix Stabilizing Agents.- 20 New Targets for Triple Helix Forming Oligonucleotides.- 21 Triplexes and Biotechnology.