University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Matthew Hammill

Jean-Paul Desaulniers

In one aspect, a chemically-modified siRNA for reversible photo-controlled gene silencing is provided. In one embodiment, one or more nucleotides the sense strand of the siRNA are replaced with a spacer comprising an azobenzene or derivative thereof. The azobenzene or derivative thereof undergoes isomerization between the trans-configuration and the cis-configuration in the presence of light from a light source and the siRNA optionally has higher RNA silencing activity when the azobenzene or derivative thereof is in the trans-configuration compared to the cis-configuration. In other aspects, the chemically-modified siRNAs may, for example, be useful as both therapeutics and research tools.

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Cobourg, Canada

Matthew Hammill