Targeted genome modification via triple helix formation.

Triplex-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) that can bind to duplex DNA in a sequence-specific manner are potential tools to achieve targeted gene modification. Initial studies demonstrated the ability of TFOs to deliver mutagenic agents in a DNA site-specific manner. It has also been found that TFOs can induce gene modification in chromosomal DNA via the effect of the triple helix itself. Gene modification with TFOs includes induced recombination between a DNA target and a donor DNA molecule, a process that allows a TFO to exert an effect at a distance from the third-strand binding site. Ongoing efforts to develop chemical modifications on the third strand have increased the number of target sites possible for gene correction and new techniques for TFO delivery are beginning to enhance the biologic effectiveness of these reagents.