Intracellular distribution of TiO2-DNA oligonucleotide nanoconjugates directed to nucleolus and mitochondria indicates sequence specificity.

Paunesku, Tatjana; Vogt, Stefan; Lai, Barry; Maser, Jörg; Stojićević, Natasa; Thurn, Kenneth T; Osipo, Clodia; Liu, Hong et al. · Nano Lett · 2007

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) oligonucleotides hybridize to matching DNA sequences in cells, as established in the literature, depending on active transcription of the target sequence and local molarity of the oligonucleotide. We investigated the intracellular distribution of nanoconjugates composed of DNA oligonucleotides attached to TiO2 nanoparticles, thus creating a locally increased concentration of the oligonucleotide. Two types of nanoconjugates, with oligonucleotides matching mitochondrial or nucleolar DNA, were specifically retained in mitochondria or nucleoli.

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