Antisense oligonucleotides (ASO), short single-stranded polymers based on DNA or RNA chemistries and synthesized in vitro, regulate gene expression by binding in a sequence-specific manner to an RNA target. The functional activity and selectivity in the action of ASOs largely depends on the combination of nitrogenous bases in a target sequence. This simple and natural property of nucleic acids provides an attractive route by which scientists can create different ASO-based techniques. Over the last 50 years, planned and realized applications in the field of antisense and nucleic acid nanotechnologies have produced astonishing results and posed new challenges for further developments, exemplifying the essence of the post-genomic era. Today the majority of ASOs are chemically modified and/or incorporated within nanoparticles to enhance their stability and cellular uptake. This review critically analyzes some successful cases using the antisense approach in medicine to address severe diseases, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy, and suggests some prospective directions for future research. We also examine in detail the elaboration of unmodified insect-specific DNA insecticides and RNA preparations in the areas of agriculture and forestry, a relatively new branch of ASO that allows circumvention of the use of non-selective chemical insecticides. When considering the variety of successful ASO modifications with an efficient signal-to-noise ratio of action, coupled with the affordability of in vitro oligonucleotide synthesis and post-synthesis procedures, we predict that the next half-century will produce a fruitful yield of tools created from effective ASO-based end products.

Antisense oligonucleotides (ASO), short single-stranded polymers based on DNA or RNA chemistries and synthesized in vitro, regulate gene expression by binding in a sequence-specific manner to an RNA target. The functional activity and selectivity in the action of ASOs largely depends on the combination of nitrogenous bases in a target sequence. This simple and natural property of nucleic acids provides an attractive route by which scientists can create different ASO-based techniques. Over the last 50 years, planned and realized applications in the field of antisense and nucleic acid nanotechnologies have produced astonishing results and posed new challenges for further developments, exemplifying the essence of the post-genomic era. Today the majority of ASOs are chemically modified and/or incorporated within nanoparticles to enhance their stability and cellular uptake. This review critically analyzes some successful cases using the antisense approach in medicine to address severe diseases, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy, and suggests some prospective directions for future research. We also examine in detail the elaboration of unmodified insect-specific DNA insecticides and RNA preparations in the areas of agriculture and forestry, a relatively new branch of ASO that allows circumvention of the use of non-selective chemical insecticides. When considering the variety of successful ASO modifications with an efficient signal-to-noise ratio of action, coupled with the affordability of in vitro oligonucleotide synthesis and post-synthesis procedures, we predict that the next half-century will produce a fruitful yield of tools created from effective ASO-based end products.

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Оптогенетика -инновационное и быстро развивающиеся научное направление, объединяющее достижения молекулярной биологии и лазерных технологий для решения вопросов мониторинга различных биохимических процессов в клетке и контроля ее активности с помощью света. Данный обзор посвящен вопросам реализации и применения оптогенетического подхода для диагностики и лечения различных социально значимых заболеваний на молекулярно-генетическом уровне. Описаны различные способы доставки и встраивания генетических конструкций, кодирующих трансмембранные белки. Рассматриваются новые оптоволоконные технологии, используемые для исполнения имплантируемых устройств генерации и фиксирования сигналов в возбудимых тканях. Приводится анализ современных, наиболее используемых способов регистрации показателей эксперимента, указываются ключевые преимущества и недостатки различных методик.Ключевые слова: оптогенетика, опсины, ионные каналы, оптоволоконные системы, фотостимуляция, нейроинтерфейс, оптогенетическая терапия.Конфликт интересов. Авторы декларируют отсутствие явных и потенциальных конфликтов интересов, связанных с публикацией настоящей статьи.

O ptogenetics is an innovative and fast-developing scientific trend uniting achievements of molecular biology and laser technologies for the monitoring of various biochemical processes in the cell and the control of cell activity with light. Recent advances in optogenetics are based on the use of genetically encoded photosensitive ion channels, which demonstrate various combinations of photostimulation. It is especially important to ensure the availability of a high-quality fiber-optic