Chemistry of PNA Peptide Nucleic Acid Essay -- Biology Polymer Medical

Abstract For this report I chose to study PNA, or peptide nucleic acid, a biological polymer that was related to the biomedical field of research. I was very interested in this synthesized molecule because of its inimitable and remarkable properties, comparatively to other nucleic acids such as the more commonly known DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, and RNA, or ribonucleic acid. I also wanted to understand its uses and possible uses in everyday life. My main goal was to learn about the structure, significance, and clinical applications of PNA. Essay Imagine being able to solve problems such as cancer by just a few molecules. Think of all of the lives that would be saved by this miracle molecule. Well, there may be such a thing, and that too a polymer that is similar to DNA. This wonder-molecule is called peptide nucleic acid, or PNA. PNAs can bind with high specificity to a selected target in a gene sequence, so this makes them very significant, especially in the medicinal and biotechnological perspectives. However, before learning how PNA is useful in that way, it is crucial to learn about its properties and their meaning. Peptide nucleic acid is a very special polymer that is unique in its characteristics, functions, and use in the modern world. 3 Although PNA may not be a common household word, it is quite familiar to molecular scientists all over the world. It is a potent structural mimic of DNA with a pseudopeptide backbone. This is clearly shown by the image on the left, as the central composition of both nucleic acids are relatively analogous. The phosphodiester backbone of DNA is replaced in PNA by a 2- aminoethyl-glycine linkage. The structure of the molecule itself is a glycine molecule with .. ...nant Melanoma. 27 Oct. 2006. 29 July 2008 . [5]: Mondhe, Madhav. Figure 2. Chemical Structure of PNA & DNA. [PNA binding to DNA]. Digital image. Madhav Mondhe. 24 Oct. 2007. 29 July 2008 . Pellestor, Franck. PRINS and PNA Technologies in Chromosomal Investigation. New York: Nova Science, Incorporated, 2006. [4]: Vocke, Eric, Everardo Macias, and Virginia Evans. PNA Triplex Ball and Stick. Digital image. DNA Triplexes. 29 July 2008 gcntrl.html#location>. [3]: Vocke, Eric, Everardo Macias, and Virginia Evans. PNA Triplex Black and White. Digital image. DNA Triplexes. 29 July 2008 gcntrl.html#location>.