Antisense strand

Antisense Strand

The antisense strand is a term used in genetics to refer to the strand of DNA or RNA that is complementary to the sense strand. The antisense strand serves as the template for transcription to produce a sense strand of RNA, which may then be translated into a protein.

Overview

In the double helix structure of DNA, one strand is known as the sense strand, and the other is the antisense strand. The sense strand carries the genetic code for proteins in the 5' to 3' direction, the same direction in which mRNA is synthesized. The antisense strand, on the other hand, runs in the 3' to 5' direction, and it is this strand that is transcribed by RNA polymerase to produce an mRNA molecule.

Role in Transcription

During transcription, the antisense strand of DNA is used as a template by RNA polymerase to synthesize a complementary mRNA molecule. This process involves the pairing of nucleotide bases, with adenine (A) pairing with uracil (U) in RNA, and cytosine (C) pairing with guanine (G).

Antisense Therapy

The concept of the antisense strand has been utilized in the development of antisense therapy, a form of treatment that involves the use of antisense oligonucleotides to inhibit the expression of specific genes. This has potential applications in the treatment of a variety of diseases, including cancer and genetic disorders.

See Also

• Sense strand
• DNA
• RNA
• Transcription (genetics)
• Antisense therapy