Table 3.

Classes of Oligonucleotide Therapeutics

	Structure	Target	Binding	Action
Antisense	Single-stranded DNA (generally including chemically modified nucleic acids; relatively short strands)	mRNA pre-mRNA miRNA	Sequence-specific binding to RNA	Inhibition of translation, control of splicing
siRNA	Double-stranded RNA (sometimes including chemically modified nucleic acids; relatively short strands)	mRNA	Sequence-specific binding to RNA	mRNA cleavage, inhibition of translation
miRNA	Double-stranded RNA (relatively short strands)	mRNA	Sequence-specific binding to RNA	Control of translation
Decoy	Double-stranded DNA (relatively short strands)	Transcription factor	Binding to transcription factor	Inhibition of transcription
Aptamer	Single-stranded DNA or RNA (sometimes including chemically modified nucleic acids; relatively long strands)	Protein	Binding to target molecule	Antibody-like effects

miRNA, microRNA.