Synthetic DNA Cuts Cancer Gene Activity in Lab
The modified molecules are research-stage and have not yet been tested in patients, though the bases are now commercially available to other labs.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Life Sciences
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Researchers at the University of Portsmouth developed synthetic DNA molecules that reduce activity of the cancer-linked MYC gene by 50 to 80 per cent in laboratory experiments. The technology is research-stage and has not been tested in patients.
Why it matters
Many specialised DNA modifications previously had to be custom-made by expert chemists, which limited who could work with them. The team also made the modified DNA bases commercially available so other laboratories can adopt the approach, a step that could speed follow-up research on gene-targeting therapies.
In laboratory tests, the modified molecules cut MYC gene activity by 50 to 80 per cent, beating both unmodified DNA and several earlier methods aimed at the same DNA regions. The results come from cell-free and laboratory experiments, and the reporting gives no patient data.
The players
University of Portsmouth
A UK university whose researchers led the study on synthetic DNA molecules targeting the MYC gene.
The details
The team incorporated a commercially available synthetic DNA base known as Z into triplex-forming oligonucleotides, short DNA strands designed to recognise and attach to specific DNA sequences. The modification lets these molecules bind more strongly and selectively to GC-rich regions of DNA, where guanine and cytosine bases cluster. Naturally occurring DNA bases do not bind strongly enough to double-stranded DNA to be effective inside cells, which is why the modified version matters.
Timeline
The paper was published in Nucleic Acids Research on 4 November 2026.
The Tech Race
Previous gene-targeting approaches required custom-made, specialised DNA modifications that only expert chemists could produce. By making the modified bases commercially available, the team lowers that barrier for other laboratories working on the same class of tools.
For patients, nothing changes yet, since the approach has only been tested in laboratory experiments and not in people. For other researchers, the commercially available modified bases mean they can start testing the approach in their own laboratories without custom chemical synthesis.
The takeaway
Watch for follow-up laboratory studies from other groups using the commercially available modified bases, which would show whether the 50 to 80 per cent reduction in MYC activity holds up outside the original team. The step to watch is any move from laboratory experiments toward animal or patient testing, which the researchers say will still be needed.
Further reading
For background on how scientists are pushing gene research toward therapies, explore Life Sciences coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Firstwordpharma.
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