DNAzymes as molecular agents that manipulate Egr-1 gene expression

In recent years, the arsenal of small-molecule synthetic nucleic acids as gene-specific "knock-down" agents has increased in scope and variety. The investigator has the choice of antisense oligonucleotides, ribozymes, siRNA and DNAzymes, each subclass further benefiting from modifications that increase stability and efficiency and decrease toxicity. This review describes our use of DNAzymes in efforts to define the roles of key transcription factor targets, first in cultured vascular cells, then in animal models of neovascularization and arterial thickening.