Patent ID: 7989166
Filing Date: 2011-08-02
Classification: C12Q

Abstract:
1. A circular nucleic acid probe for targeting a nucleic acid sequence, said probe having a total length of 30-200 nucleotides comprising: I a first part and a third part comprising nucleic acid sequences that are at least 75% complementary to each other and each having a length of from 3 to 100 nucleotides; II a second nucleic acid part comprising a hairpin structure extending either from said first part or from said third part, wherein said second part has a length of from 9 to 50 nucleotides; and III a fourth part comprising a sequence of nucleic acid residues, which is at least 75% complementary to the target nucleic acid sequence, wherein the length of said fourth part is from 6 to 100 nucleotides, wherein said probe comprises one or more elements having endonuclease activity, and wherein the one or more elements having endonuclease activity is positioned internally in a target complementary sequence, dividing it into two or more parts.