Morpholino oligos: making sense of antisense?

Dev Biol. 2002 Mar 15;243(2):209-14. doi: 10.1006/dbio.2001.0565.

Abstract

Since morpholino oligos were first introduced as a means to inhibit gene function in embryos, in the Spring of 2000, they have been tested in a range of model organisms, including sea urchin, ascidian, zebrafish, frog, chick, and mouse. This review surveys the results of these studies and examines the successes and limitations of the approach for targeting maternal and zygotic gene function. The evidence so far suggests that, with careful controls, morpholinos provide a relatively simple and rapid method to study gene function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / etiology
  • Animals
  • Chick Embryo
  • Embryonic and Fetal Development / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects*
  • Gene Targeting
  • Mammals / embryology
  • Mice
  • Morphogenesis / drug effects
  • Morpholines / chemistry
  • Morpholines / pharmacology*
  • Morpholines / toxicity
  • Mutation
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense / chemistry
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense / pharmacology*
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense / toxicity
  • Phenotype
  • Protein Biosynthesis / drug effects
  • RNA, Messenger / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Sea Urchins
  • Urochordata / embryology
  • Xenopus laevis
  • Zebrafish / embryology
  • Zygote / drug effects

Substances

  • Morpholines
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense
  • RNA, Messenger