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Biomedical subjects

G Zon

Publications and source records attributed to G Zon.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

C-RAF-1 serine/threonine kinase is required in BCR/ABL-dependent and normal hematopoiesis.

BCR/ABL oncogenic tyrosine kinase is responsible for initiating and maintaining the leukeic phenotype of Philadelphia chromosome-positive cells. c-RAF-1 serine/threonine kinase is known to be activated by receptor and nonreceptor tyrosine kinases. To determine whether c-RAF-1 plays a role in the growth of BCR/ABL-dependent cells, we examined whether c-RAF-1 associates with and/or is regulated by BCR/ABL and, if so, whether this interaction is functionally significant for BCR/ABL-dependent growth of chronic myelogenous leukemia cells and for growth factor-dependent proliferation of normal bone marrow cells. We show that c-RAF-1 enzymatic activity is regulated by BCR/ABL, although the protein does not associate with BCR/ABL. Downregulation of c-RAF-1 expression with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides or cDNA constructs, and inhibition of c-RAF-1 activity by its dominant negative mutants, inhibited both BCR/ABL-dependent growth of chronic myelogenous leukemia cells and growth factor-dependent proliferation of normal hematopoietic progenitors and the MO7 cell line without affecting the BCR/ABL-and growth factor-independent proliferation of HL-60 cells. These results indicate that c-RAF-1 plays an important role in Philadelphia chromosome-positive and normal hematopoiesis.

Base Sequence↗

X-ray structures of the B-DNA dodecamer d(CGCGTTAACGCG) with an inverted central tetranucleotide and its netropsin complex.

The crystal structures of the B-DNA dodecamer d(CGCGTTAACGCG) duplex (T2A2), with the inverted tetranucleotide core from the duplex d(CGCGAATTCGCG) [A2T2, Dickerson & Drew (1981). J. Mol. Biol. 149, 761-768], and its netropsin complex (T2A2-N) have been determined at 2.3 A resolution. The crystals are orthorhombic, space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), unit-cell dimensions of a = 25.7, b = 40.5 and c = 67.0 A, for T2A2 and a = 25.49, b = 40.87, c = 67.02 A for T2A2-N and are isomorphous with A2T2. The native T2A2 structure, with 70 water molecules had a final R value of 0.15 for 1522 reflections (F > 2sigma), while for the netropsin complex, with 87 water molecules, the R value was 0.16 for 2420 reflections. In T2A2, a discontinuous string of zig-zagging water molecules hydrate the narrow A.T minor groove. In T2A2-N, netropsin binds in one orientation in the minor groove, covering the TTAA central region, by displacing the string of waters, forming the majority of hydrogen bonds with DNA atoms in one strand, and causing very little perturbation of the native structure. The helical twist angle in T2A2 is largest at the duplex center, corresponding to the cleavage site by the restriction enzymes HpaI and HincII. The sequence inversion AATT-->TTAA of the tetranucleotide at the center of the molecule results in a different path for the local helix axis in T2A2 and A2T2 but the overall bending is similar in both cases.

Journal Article↗

Antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides: introductory concepts and possible molecular mechanisms of toxicity.

Over the past 5 years or so, much attention has been given to the possible use of synthetic antisense oligonucleotide analogs as a new class of therapeutic agents that function by sequence-specific inhibition of genetic expression. The basic design concepts which underline this novel approach to drug discovery are briefly described herein, together with some of the chemical, biochemical, and pharmacological aspects of phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides that are first-generation antisense compounds now under clinical investigation. Possible molecular mechanisms of toxicity for this class, and other structural types of antisense compounds are discussed with the hope of stimulating interest in future toxicological studies in this emerging area of drug development.

Gene Expression↗

Antisense phosphorothioates as antivirals against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV).

For the past 10 years we have focused on the development of antisense treatments against viral infections such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV). We have demonstrated that phosphorothioate oligomers have in vitro anti-HIV activities and in vivo anti-HBV activity. In vitro anti-HIV activities of phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides (S-oligo) were classified into sequence non-specific (non-antisense) and sequence specific (antisense). We found that toxicity of S-oligo could be also classified into the same 2 categories. Since some of non-specific toxicity is dependent on experimental conditions, in each experiment, we should pay attention to minimize non-specific toxicity of the oligomers.

Animals↗

Cholesteryl-conjugated phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides modulate CYP2B1 expression in vivo.

5' cholesteryl-conjugated phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides with sequence complementary to the rat CYP2B1 mRNA were evaluated in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats for their pharmacokinetic properties, toxicity, and ability to modulate CYP2B1 expression in vivo. Following intraperitoneal administration of 35S-labelled oligodeoxynucleotides, volume of distribution for the phosphorothioate was 0.33 l/kg while the 5' cholesteryl-conjugate oligodeoxynucleotide was 0.12 l/kg. The elimination half-life was 23.2 and 55.4 hrs for cholesteryl-modified and unmodified oligodeoxynucleotides, respectively. Cholesteryl-conjugate oligodeoxynucleotide toxicity was detected at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg and consisted primarily of midzonal liver cell enlargement and increased total RNA. Hexobarbital sleep times, a measure of CYP2B1 enzyme activity in vivo, increased from 21.9 minutes in saline-treated animals to 29.5 minutes in cholesterol oligodeoxynucleotide-treated animals. A significant decrease in liver microsomal pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylase enzyme activity, a CYP2B1/2 specific assay, was observed but not a change in p-nitrophenol hydroxylase activity, a specific CYP2E1 assay. These data indicate that in vivo modulation of the CYP2B1 gene can be accomplished with synthetic phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides in a sequence-specific manner. Further, cholesteryl conjugation to the 5' end of the oligodeoxynucleotide enhanced potency despite lesser bioavailability.

Animals↗

Antisense oligonucleotides in solution or encapsulated in immunoliposomes inhibit replication of HIV-1 by several different mechanisms.

Phosphodiester and phosphorothioate oligonucleotides in alpha and beta configurations directed against the initiation codon region of the HIV-1 rev gene were evaluated for their ability to inhibit HIV-1 replication in acutely and chronically infected human CEM cells. Encapsulation in antibody-targeted liposomes (immunoliposomes) permitted intracellular delivery and distinction between oligonucleotide-mediated inhibition of viral entry and intracellular effects on viral RNA. Our results are consistent with four mechanisms of antiviral activity for these antisense oligonucleotides: (i) interference with virus-mediated cell fusion by free but not liposome-encapsulated phosphorothioate oligonucleotides of any sequence; (ii) interference with reverse transcription in a sequence non-specific manner by phosphorothioate oligonucleotides in alpha and beta configurations; (iii) interference with viral reverse transcription in a sequence-specific and RNase-H-independent manner by alpha and beta phosphodiester oligonucleotides; (iv) interference with viral mRNA in a sequence-specific and RNase-H-dependent manner by beta-phosphorothioate oligonucleotides.

Antiviral Agents↗

Negative regulation of p120GAP GTPase promoting activity by p210bcr/abl: implication for RAS-dependent Philadelphia chromosome positive cell growth.

The p210bcr/abl tyrosine kinase appears to be responsible for initiating and maintaining the leukemic phenotype in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients. p21ras-p120GAP interactions play a central role in transducing mitogenic signals. Therefore, we investigated whether p21ras and p120GAP are regulated by p210bcr/abl, and whether this activation is functionally significant for CML cell proliferation. We report that transient expression of p210bcr/abl in fibroblast-like cells induces simultaneous activation of p21ras and inhibition of GTPase-promoting activity of p120GAP, and confirm these data showing that downregulation of p210bcr/abl expression in CML cells with bcr/abl antisense oligodeoxynucleotides induces both inhibition of p21ras activation and stimulation of GTPase-promoting activity of p120GAP. Tyrosine phosphorylation of two p120GAP-associated proteins, p190 and p62, which may affect p120GAP activity, also depends on p210bcr/abl tyrosine kinase expression. Direct dependence of these effects on the kinase activity is proven in experiments in which expression of c-MYB protein in fibroblast-like cells or downregulation of c-MYB expression resulting in analogous inhibition of CML cell proliferation does not result in the same changes. Use of specific antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to downregulate p21ras expression revealed a requirement for functional p21ras in the proliferation of Philadelphia chromosome-positive CML primary cells. Thus, the p210bcr/abl-dependent regulation of p120GAP activity is responsible, in part, for the maintenance of p21ras in the active GTP-bound form, a crucial requirement for CML cell proliferation.

Base Sequence↗

Biologic and therapeutic significance of MYB expression in human melanoma.

We investigated the therapeutic potential of employing antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to target the disruption of MYB, a gene which has been postulated to play a pathogenetic role in cutaneous melanoma. We found that MYB was expressed at low levels in several human melanoma cell lines. Also, growth of representative lines in vitro was inhibited in a dose- and sequence-dependent manner by targeting the MYB gene with unmodified or phosphorothioate-modified antisense oligodeoxynucleotides. Inhibition of cell growth correlated with specific decrease of MYB mRNA. In SCID mice bearing human melanoma tumors, infusion of MYB antisense transiently suppressed MYB gene expression but effected long-term growth suppression of transplanted tumor cells. Toxicity of the oligodeoxynucleotides was minimal in mice, even when targeted to the murine Myb gene. These results suggest that the MYB gene may play an important, though undefined, role in the growth of at least some human melanomas. Inhibition of MYB expression might be of use in the treatment of this disease.

Animals↗

Suppression of Philadelphia1 leukemia cell growth in mice by BCR-ABL antisense oligodeoxynucleotide.

When injected into SCID mice, the Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia-blast crisis cell line BV173 induces a disease process closely resembling that seen in leukemia patients. At 1 and 3 weeks after injection of 10(6) BV173 cells, CD10+ cells were detected in the bone marrow of the mice, leukemic colonies grew from bone marrow and spleen cell suspensions, and BCR-ABL transcripts were detectable in bone marrow, spleen, peripheral blood, liver, and lungs. Systemic treatment of the leukemic mice with a 26-mer BCR-ABL antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (1 mg/day for 9 days) induced disappearance of CD10+ and clonogenic leukemic cells and a marked decrease in BCR-ABL mRNA in mouse tissues. Untreated mice or mice treated with a BCR-ABL sense oligodeoxynucleotide or a 6-base-mismatched antisense oligodeoxynucleotide oligodeoxynucleotide were dead 8-13 weeks after leukemia cell injection; in marked contrast, mice treated with BCR-ABL antisense oligodeoxynucleotide died of leukemia 18-23 weeks after injection of leukemic cells. These findings provide evidence for the in vivo effectiveness of an anticancer therapy based on antisense oligodeoxynucleotides targeting a tumor-specific gene.

Animals↗

Sequence specific thermodynamic and structural properties for DNA.RNA duplexes.

DNA.RNA hybrid duplexes are found in many important biological processes and are involved in developing modes of disease treatment, such as antisense therapy, yet little is known about the sequence dependence of their structure and stability. The structure and thermodynamic stability of DNA.RNA hybrid model systems corresponding in composition and length and containing (1) all purine or all pyrimidine bases on each strand or (2) mixed purine and pyrimidine bases on each strand have been evaluated relative to pure RNA and DNA duplexes by thermal melting, CD, and electrophoresis analyses. The spread in free energies of denaturation of the homopurine.homopyrimidine systems covers over 14 kcal/mol of single strands, while the mixed sequence free energies vary by less than 4 kcal/mol. The RNA-homopurine.DNA-homopyrimidine hybrid resembles a corresponding pure RNA duplex in both structure and stability, whereas the DNA-homopurine.RNA-homopyrimidine hybrid resembles a corresponding pure DNA duplex. The mixed sequence hybrids show intermediate structure between the corresponding pure RNA and pure DNA duplexes and a stability closer to that of the pure DNA duplex. From these results and the evaluation of published hybrid data [Hall, K. B., & McLaughlin, L. W. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 10606-10613; Roberts, W. R., & Crothers, D. M. (1992) Science 258, 1463-1466], it can be predicted that a hybrid duplex containing more RNA purine bases will have a CD spectrum, and probably conformation, resembling that of A-form duplexes and will be more stable than a corresponding hybrid duplex with fewer RNA purine bases.

Base Sequence↗

Intracellular oligonucleotide hybridization detected by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET).

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) was used to study hybrid formation and dissociation after microinjection of oligonucleotides (ODNs) into living cells. A 28-mer phosphodiester ODN (+PD) was synthesized and labeled with a 3' rhodamine (+PD-R). The complementary, antisense 5'-fluorescein labeled phosphorothioate ODN (-PT-F) was specifically quenched by addition of the +PD-R. In solution, the -PT-F/+PD-R hybrid had a denaturation temperature of 65 +/- 3 degrees C detected by both absorbance and FRET. Hybridization between the ODNs occurred within 1 minute at 17 microM and was not appreciably affected by the presence of non-specific DNA. The pre-formed hybrid slowly dissociated (T1/2 approximately 3 h) in the presence of a 300-fold excess of the unlabeled complementary ODN and could be degraded by DNAse I. Upon microinjection into the cytoplasm of cells, pre-formed fluorescent hybrids dissociated with a half-time of 15 minutes, which is attributed to the degradation of the phosphodiester. Formation of the hybrid from sequentially injected ODNs was detected by FRET transiently in the cytoplasm and later in the cell nucleus, where nearly all injected ODNs accumulate. This suggests that antisense ODNs can hybridize to an intracellular target, of exogenous origin in these studies, in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus.

Animals↗

Solution structure of a GA mismatch DNA sequence, d(CCATGAATGG)2, determined by 2D NMR and structural refinement methods.

GA mismatches in DNA have drawn attention because of their special repair mechanisms, stability, and variety of conformations. A symmetric 10-base oligodeoxyribonucleotide duplex, d(CCATGAATGG)2, containing two GA mismatches has been investigated by one- and two-dimensional multinuclear NMR and molecular refinement procedures to ascertain the conformational details of the 5'-pyrimidine-GA-purine-3' sequence. A molecular model established from the NMR results has a B-type right-handed helix with each of the bases retaining the normal anti-glycosidic torsional angles. Type I mismatched base pairs have GNH2-AN7 and GN3-ANH2 (edge-to-edge) hydrogen bonds, while type II base pairs have GN1H-AN1 and GO6-ANH2 (face-to-face) bonds. The conformation at the GA mismatch site has type I GA base pairs and an unusual cross-strand stacking of the adjacent G5 and A6 bases, which causes significant overwinding of the helix at the mismatch site. Unusual shifts of the 31P resonances suggest that the phosphate linkage between G5 and A6 is no longer in the low-energy BI conformation. One-dimensional imino and phosphorus NMR studies were carried out on a number of DNA sequences containing adjacent 5'-GA-3' mismatched base pairs to investigate the sequence dependence of the conformations and base-pairing types. Type I and type II conformations have very different imino proton and 31P NMR spectral patterns that can be used to classify any sequence with adjacent GA mismatches by base-pairing and conformational type. The NMR results indicate that the conformation selected is dictated completely by the flanking sequence: 5'-pyrimidine-GA-purine-3' sequences adopt the type I conformation, while 5'-purine-GA-pyrimidine-3' sequences have the type II conformation.

Base Sequence↗

The interaction of intercalators and groove-binding agents with DNA triple-helical structures: the influence of ligand structure, DNA backbone modifications and sequence.

The effects of ligand structure and properties, DNA backbone modifications and DNA sequence on the interaction of a variety of well-known groove-binding agents and intercalators with DNA duplexes and triplexes have been evaluated by thermal melting experiments and molecular modeling. Both methylphosphonate and phosphorothioate substitutions generally destabilize DNA duplexes and triplexes. Modified duplexes can be strongly stabilized by both groove-binding agents and intercalators whereas triplexes are primarily stabilized by intercalators. Of the compounds tested, the intercalators coralyne and quinacrine provide the largest stabilization of the triplex dT19.dA19.dT19. Molecular modeling studies suggest that the large intercalating ring system of coralyne stacks well with the triplex bases whereas the alkylamino side chain of quinacrine fits snugly into the remaining space of the major groove of dT19.dA19.dT19 triplex and forms extensive van der Waals contacts with the thymine methyl groups that line the groove. Converting some of the T.A.T base triples to C+.G.C (e.g. dT19.dA19.dT19 to d(T4C+)3T4.d(A4G)3A4.(T4C)3T4) causes very significant decreases in observed Tm increases for compounds such as quinacrine and coralyne. Although removal of thymine methyl groups and addition of positive charge on substitution of C+.G.C for T.A.T should reduce binding of cationic intercalators, the large difference observed between the pure AT and the mixed sequence triplexes suggest that they may also have differences in structure and properties.

Base Sequence↗

HIV-1 rev antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotide binding to human mononuclear cells is cell type specific and inducible.

A fluorescein-conjugated, antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotide with specificity for HIV-1 rev sequence (FAM-anti-rev) was investigated for its ability to bind to specific subsets of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Oligonucleotide binding by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, B cells, and monocytes isolated from 15 normal and 15 HIV-infected individuals was evaluated on both nonstimulated mononuclear cells and after 24-hr activation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA). In both normals and HIV-infected individuals, we found a significantly higher percentage of monocytes and B cells binding oligonucleotide in comparison to T cells. Oligonucleotide binding by both T cells and B cells was enhanced by 24-hr PHA stimulation while monocyte uptake was unchanged. In comparison to normal controls, HIV-1-infected patients showed slightly higher percentages of both unstimulated and PHA activated CD4+, CD8+, and CD25+ T cells binding oligonucleotide. The propensity for a high percentage of monocytes, which may act as an HIV-1 reservoir, to bind the anti-rev oligonucleotide and the enhanced binding by T cells in the HIV-1-infected patient samples provides some optimism for potential in vivo therapy of HIV-1 infection using antisense oligonucleotides.

Base Sequence↗

Pharmacokinetics of an antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide against rev from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in the adult male rat following single injections and continuous infusion.

An antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide 27-mer complementary to the rev gene mRNA of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) was administered to rats through intravenous injections and subcutaneous infusions in order to investigate the disposition of this compound. In addition, nonlethal toxic responses of the rat were evaluated. A biphasic plasma clearance with t1/2 alpha of 20-25 min and t1/2 beta of 27-41 hr was observed. Single doses ranging from 35 to 3257 micrograms were examined, and the plasma concentration and area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) were found to be directly proportional to the dose. Continuous subcutaneous infusion of 50 mg over 28 days was also examined. The oligonucleotide is completely eliminated in the urine over 3 days. Electrophoretic analysis demonstrated that the excreted compound has the same mobility and UV-absorbance profile as the administered compound. Measurement of accumulation and distribution into tissues revealed unique tissue-specific rates and extent of oligonucleotide movement into and out of tissues. Results of the chronic infusion study suggest that uptake into tissue is not saturated, even after 28 days of infusion. Analysis of blood plasma from oligonucleotide-treated animals shows a possible transient elevation in levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), but not alkaline phosphatase (AP), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GT), and bilirubin. The data collectively support the potential utility of phosphorothioate oligonucleotides as therapeutic agents in vivo.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Block of AIDS-Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) cell growth, angiogenesis, and lesion formation in nude mice by antisense oligonucleotide targeting basic fibroblast growth factor. A novel strategy for the therapy of KS.

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is the most frequent tumor of HIV-1-infected individuals (AIDS-KS). Typical features of KS are proliferating spindle-shaped cells, considered to be the tumor cells of KS, and endothelial cells forming blood vessels. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), a potent angiogenic factor, is highly expressed by KS spindle cells in vivo and after injection in nude mice it induces vascular lesions closely resembling early KS in humans. Similar lesions are induced by inoculating nude mice with cultured spindle cells from AIDS-KS lesions (AIDS-KS cells) which produce and release bFGF. Here we show that phosphorothioate antisense (AS) oligonucleotides directed against bFGF mRNA (ASbFGF) inhibit both the growth of AIDS-KS cells derived from different patients and the angiogenic activity associated with these cells, including the induction of KS-like lesions in nude mice. These effects are due to the block of the production of bFGF which is required by AIDS-KS cells to enter the cell cycle and which, after release, mediates angiogenesis. The effects of ASbFGF are specific, dose dependent, achieved at low (0.1-1 microM), nontoxic, oligomer concentrations, and are reversed by the addition of bFGF to the cells, suggesting that ASbFGF oligomers are promising drug candidates for KS therapy.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

p120 GAP requirement in normal and malignant human hematopoiesis.

There is evidence to suggest that the p120 GAP (GAP), originally described as an inhibitor of p21ras, may also serve as a downstream effector of ras-regulated signal transduction. To determine whether GAP expression is required for the growth of human normal and leukemic hematopoietic cells, we used GAP antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to inhibit it and analyzed the effects of this inhibition on the colony-forming ability of nonadherent, T lymphocyte-depleted mononuclear cells and of highly purified progenitors (CD34+ MNC) obtained from the bone marrow and peripheral blood of healthy volunteers or chronic myeloid leukemia (CML, bcr-abl-positive) patients. The acute myelogenous leukemia cell line MO7, the Philadelphia BV173 cell line, and the acute promyelocytic leukemia NB4 and HL-60 cell lines were similarly examined. GAP antisense treatment inhibited colony formation from normal myelo-, erythro-, and megakaryopoietic progenitor cells as well as from CML progenitor cells. Proliferation of MO7 (growth factor-dependent) and BV173 (bcr-abl-dependent) cells, but not that of NB4 and HL-60 (growth factor-independent) cells, was also inhibited, even though a specific downregulation of GAP was observed in each cell line, as analyzed by either or both mRNA and protein expression. Stimulation of MO7 cells with hematopoietic growth factors increased the expression of GAP as well as the levels of active GTP-bound p21ras. Stimulation of GAP expression was inhibited upon GAP antisense treatment. These data indicate that p120 GAP is involved in human normal and leukemic hemopoiesis and strongly suggest that GAP is not only a p21ras inhibitor (signal terminator), but also a positive signal transducer.

Bone Marrow Cells↗

DNA triple-helix specific intercalators as antigene enhancers: unfused aromatic cations.

Triple-helical structures involving the interaction of an oligonucleotide third strand with a duplex nucleic acid sequence have recently gained attention as a therapeutic strategy in the "antigene" approach [cf. Helene, C. (1991) Eur. J. Cancer 27, 1466-1471]. This method utilizes the triple helix formed from the cellular duplex and an added third strand to directly regulate the activity of a selected gene. The limited stability of nucleic acid triple-helical interactions, particularly if the third strand has backbone modifications such as methylphosphonate or phosphorothioate substitutions, is a limiting condition for the use of this approach. We have designed and synthesized compounds, on the basis of the following three criteria, that we feel should provide selective interactions and significant stabilization of triplexes: appropriate aromatic surface area for stacking with triplex bases in an intercalation complex, positive charge, and limited torsional freedom in the aromatic system to match the propeller twist of the triple-base interactions in the triplex. A series of quinoline derivatives with an alkylamine side chain at the 4-position and with different aryl substituents at the 2-position has been synthesized as our first compounds. A 2-naphthyl derivative provides significant and selective stabilization of the triplex. In a 0.2 M NaCl buffer, the naphthyl derivative increased the Tm for the triplex (triplex to duplex and third strand transition) by approximately 30 degrees C more than the Tm increase for the duplex (duplex to single strands transition). Spectral changes and energy-transfer results indicate that the naphthyl compound and related derivatives bind to the triplex by intercalation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

DNA↗