PKR activation via hybridization chain reaction

摘要

The present application relates to the use of hybridization chain reaction (HCR) to form double stranded RNA polymers in the presence of a target, such as a nucleic acid associated with a disease or disorder. The RNA polymers are preferably able to activate the RNA-dependent kinase PKR. Activation of PKR via RNA-HCR can be used to treat a wide variety of diseases and disorders by specifically targeting diseased cells.

主权项

1. A method of activating the RNA-dependent protein kinase PKR by hybridization chain reaction (HCR), the method comprising:
contacting a sample comprising PKR with a first metastable RNA hairpin monomer comprising an initiator complement region; and contacting the sample with a second metastable RNA hairpin monomer, wherein the second monomer comprises a propagation region that is complementary to a portion of the first monomer, wherein a double-stranded RNA polymer comprising the first and second monomers is formed upon binding of a nucleic acid initiator to the initiator complement region and the polymer activates PKR.