Description: The term ‘antisense’ refers to a nucleic acid strand that is complementary to a sense strand. In the context of molecular biology, the sense strand refers to the nucleotide sequence that encodes for a protein, while the antisense strand is the one that is not directly translated into proteins but plays a crucial role in regulating gene expression. The antisense strand binds to the sense strand, forming base pairs that are fundamental for the stability of the DNA structure and for the regulation of transcription. This phenomenon is essential in cellular biology, as the interaction between sense and antisense strands can influence protein production and cellular response to different stimuli. Furthermore, the study of antisense strands has opened new avenues in biomedical research, particularly in the development of RNA-based therapies, where these strands are used to silence specific genes or modify gene expression in a controlled manner.
