Patent ID: 6127114
Filing Date: 2000-10-03
Classification: A01N,A61K,C12N

Abstract:
A method for the inactivation of a target RNA which comprises reacting the target RNA with a compound having the structure: ##STR9## wherein each X represents a nucleotide which may be the same or different; wherein each of (X).sub.n and (X).sub.n' represents an oligonucleotide having a predetermined sequence which is (a) capable of hybridizing with an RNA target sequence to be cleaved, and (b) does not naturally occur covalently bound to the sequences A-A-A-G-C- and X-C-U-G-A-, respectively, such RNA target sequence not being present within the compound;wherein each of n and n' represents an integer which defines the number of nucleotides in the oligonucleotide with the proviso that the sum of n+n' is greater than 6 and sufficient to allow the compound to stably interact with the RNA target sequence through base pairing;wherein each * represents base pairing between the nucleotides located on either side thereof;wherein each solid line represents a chemical linkage providing covalent bonds between the nucleotides located on either side thereof;wherein a represents an integer which defines a number of nucleotides with the proviso that a may be 0 or 1 and if 0, the A located 5' of (X).sub.a is bonded to the G located 3' of (X).sub.a ;wherein each of m and m' represents an integer which is greater than or equal to 1;wherein each of the dashed lines independently represents either a chemical linkage providing covalent bonds between the nucleotides located on either side thereof or the absence of any such chemical linkage; andwherein (X).sub.b represents an oligonucleotide which may be present or absent with the proviso that b represents an integer which is greater than or equal to 4 if (X).sub.b is present.