Nucleic acid drugs: a novel approach

Abstract

Nucleic acid base sequence of proteins plays a crucial role in the expression of gene. The gene is 
responsible for the synthesis of proteins and these proteins, which are synthesized, are responsible for 
the biological process and also for dreadful diseases as well. Once if the nucleic acid sequence is 
altered, we would be able to block or transfer the message for protein synthesis, there by preventing 
the particular protein, which is responsible for the disease. These nucleic acids act as drugs by 
different mechanisms, they may bind with the synthesized proteins, and they can hybridize to a 
messenger RNA leading to translation arrest or may induce degradation to target RNA. In this way the 
nucleic acids act as drug for inhibiting gene expression or protein synthesis. This article examines 
about the different types of nucleic acid drugs, their mechanisms, advantages, drawbacks and their 
future prospects.