Alteration of gene transcription by inhibition of specific transcriptional regulatory proteins has
important therapeutic potential. Synthetic double-stranded phosphorothioate
oligonucleotides with high affinity for a target transcription factor can be introduced into cells
as decoy cis-elements to bind the factors and alter gene expression. The CRE (cyclic AMP
response element)-transcription factor complex is a pleiotropic activator that participates in
the induction of a wide variety of cellular and viral genes. Because the CRE cis-element …