ANTISENSE OLIGONUCLEOTIDES COMPRISING UNIVERSAL AND/OR DEGENERATE BASES

Abstract: Antisense oligonucleotides containing one or more degenerate and/or universal bases, and one or more modified backbone linkages, and use of these oligonucleotides for cleaving target RNA molecules.

Description: ANTISENSE OLIGONUCLEOTIDES COMPRISING UNIVERSAL ANDfOR DEGENERATE BASES Field of the Invention The present invention relates to antisense oligonucleotide compositions comprising one or more universal and/or degenerate bases, and to methods for using these oligonucleotides to target RNA molecules Description of the Related Art Antisense technology is based on the finding that gene expression can be modulated using an oligonucleotide which binds to the target RNA. By exploiting the Watson-Crick base pairing and the ability to recruit certain nucleases, particularly RNase H, to specifically cleave the target RNA in the DNA/RNA hybrid, one can design antisense molecules which are highly specific for the target nucleic acid molecule. However, there are families of genes in which this high degree of specificity may be detrimental For example, it may be desirable to target two or more of these genes if there is a synergistic effect if the genes are inactivated together. Typical antisense compounds are modified nucleic acids that bind to their target RNA via Watson Crick base pairing. Different constructions can recruit a variety of RNases to mediate the cleavage of the target RNA. The most common RNase is RNase H which recognizes a DNA/RNA duplex, followed by cleavage of the target RNA. The oligonucleotide most commonly used for this purpose contains unmodified (naturally-occurring) bases (A, T, G, C) and a modified backbone called a phosphorothioate which renders the oligonucleotide resistant to nucleases. Other backbone modifications such as 2' 0 alkyl render the oligonucleotide unable to mediate RNase H cleavage of the target RNA. There are many reports of the combination of non RNase H substrate portions and RNase H substrate portions within a single antisense oligonucleotide. These non-RNase H substrate portions provide both binding and specificity for the antisense oligonucleotide. Examples of these backbones include methγlphosphonates, orpholinos, MI, peptide nucleic acids (PNA) and 3' amidates. Sugar modifications that increase antisense oligonucleotide binding and nuclease stability include 2'-0 alkyl, 2'-0-allyl, 2' 0 methoxyethyl, 2' 0-alkylamιnoalkyl, 2' fluoro (2' F) and 2'-amιno. Universal or degenerate bases are heterocyc c moieties which have the ability to hydrogen bond to more than one base in a DNA duplex without destroying the ability of the whole molecule to bind to the target. The use of oligonucleotides having unmodified backbones and containing degenerate or universal bases is known in the PCR primer literature (Bergstrom et al., J. Am Chem. Soc. 117.1201 1209, 1995; Nichols et al., Nature 369:492493, 1994; Loakes, Nucl. Acids Res. 22.40394043, 1994; Brown, Nucl Acids Res. 20:5149 5152, 1992). However, to date these universal and degenerate bases have not been used in antisense technology, and have not been incorporated into oligonucleotides which comprises modified backbone linkages. The present invention addresses these antisense compositions and methods. Summary of the Invention One embodiment of the present invention is an antisense oligonucleotide having at least one non naturally occurring backbone linkage and having between 6 and about 50 bases, wherein at least one of the bases are universal and/or degenerate bases. Preferably, no more than about 50% of the bases are universal and/or degenerate bases. Another embodiment of the present invention is an antisense oligonucleotide comprising a first non RNase H recruiting region having between 3 and about 15 bases, an RNase H recruiting region having between 3 and about 15 bases, and a second non-RNase H recruiting region, wherein at least one of the bases are universal and/or degenerate bases. Preferably, no more than about 50% of the bases are universal and/or degenerate bases. The present invention also provides an antisense oligonucleotide comprising a non-RNase H recruiting section and an RNase H recruiting section, wherein at least one but of the bases are universal and/or degenerate bases. Preferably, no more than about 50% of the bases are universal and/or degenerate bases. Another embodiment of the present invention is an oligonucleotide comprising an RNase L recruiting region comprising a 2' 5' adenosine oligomer, wherein at least one of the bases in the RNA targeting region of the oligonucleotide are universal and/or degenerate bases. Preferably, not more than about 50% of the bases in the RNA targeting region are universal and/or degenerate bases. The present invention also provides an oligonucleotide designed to recruit RNase P, wherein at least one of the bases in the RNA targeting region of the oligonucleotide are universal and/or degenerate bases. Preferably, no more than about 50% of the bases in the RNA targeting region are universal and/or degenerate bases. Another embodiment of the present invention is a nbozyme having at least one universal and/or degenerate base in its RNA targeting region. Preferably, no more than about 50% of the bases in the RNA targeting region are degenerate and/or universal bases. The present invention also provides a method for cleaving a target RNA molecule, comprising the step of contacting the RNA molecule with any of the oligonucleotides described above in the presence of an RNase activity capable of cleaving the target Preferably, the RNase is RNase H, RNase L or RNase P. The present invention also provides a method for cleaving a target RNA molecule, comprising the step of contacting the RNA molecule with the nbozyme described above. The present invention also provides a method for cleaving a target RNA molecule, comprising the step of contacting said RNA molecule with the nbozyme described above. Another embodiment of the present invention is a method for cleaving a target RNA molecule, comprising the step of contacting the RNA molecule with an oligonucleotide having between 6 and about 50 bases, wherein the oligonucleotide comprises at least one universal and/or degenerate base. The present invention also provides a method for reducing the deleterious effects of an antisense oligonucleotide comprising one or more sequence motifs, comprising replacing one or more bases within said one or more sequence motifs with one or more universal and/or degenerate bases. Preferably, the sequence motif is a CG dmucleotide. In another aspect of this preferred embodiment, the sequence motif is a poly G sequence. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a sequence alignment of a region of high homology between the human bcl-2A and human bcl-xL genes. Antisense oligonucleotides complementary to the aligned sequence region, and which include one or more universal and/or degenerate bases, are shown below the sequence alignment. Base mismatches are indicated by asterisks. B indicates a universal base. P and K are degenerate bases which pair with any pynmidine and any punne, respectively. Figure 2 shows a sequence alignment of three homology regions of three human protein kinase C (PKC) family members. Antisense oligonucleotides complementary to the aligned sequence region, and which include one or more universal and/or degenerate bases, are shown below the sequence alignment. These antisense oligonucleotides simultaneously target two or more PKC family members. Figure 3 shows a sequence alignment of homology regions between two alleles of the bcl 2 gene, bcl 2B and bcl 2C. Representative antisense oligonucleotides including one or more universal and/or degenerate bases are shown below the sequence alignments. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments The present invention provides antisense oligonucleotides including one or more universal and/or degenerate bases and methods for targeting RNA which includes a region complementary or nearly complementary to the antisense oligonucleotides. Conventional antisense oligonucleotide containing only naturally occurring nucleotide bases (A, T, G, C, and U) are efficient only when they are completely complementary to their target sequence. In other words, the oligonucleotide cannot bind with sufficient affinity to mismatched oligonucleotides. This compromises the ability of conventional oligonucleotides to bind to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and does not permit targeting of two or more homologous genes containing one or more mismatches with a single antisense oligonucleotide. The present invention solves this problem by incorporating one or more universal and/or degenerate bases (defined below) into antisense oligonucleotides. Because these universal and/or degenerate bases can tolerate nucleotide mismatches and bind with sufficient affinity to allow recruitment of nucleases, they solve this mismatch problem The incorporation of at least one universal andfor degenerate base into an antisense oligonucleotide can be used to reduce or eliminate the deleterious effects caused by a series or group of natural bases Various short base sequences in oligonucleotides cause significant sequence dependent biological effects which are not antisense-specific. For example, almost all nucleotides containing an unmethylated "CG" dinucleotide cause a variety of immune activation effects when injected into animals, or when incubated with isolated bone marrow cells. The most common immune activation effects are enhanced B cell proliferation and cγtokme production, including inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 2. This immune activation phenomenon is believed to be responsible for some deleterious side effects of many therapeutic antisense oligonucleotide candidates. The present invention addresses this problem by the substitution of a degenerate or universal base for C or G in these "CG" repeats. This is believed to eliminate undesirable immune activation effects, while maintaining efficient, specific antisense activity. In addition, "GGGG" and other poly-G motifs have been shown repeatedly to produce non-antisense effects such as growth inhibition in cell cultures and high systemic toxicitγ in animals. Substitution of universal and/or degenerated bases within tetra G or other poly G motifs can "break-up" these sequences and result in an antisense oligonucleotide having significant research and therapeutic utility in both animals and cell culture. The term "antisense" as used herein refers to a molecule designed to interfere with gene expression and capable of recognizing or binding to a specific desired target polynucleotide sequence. Antisense molecules typically (but not necessarily) comprise an oligonucleotide or oligonucleotide analog capable of binding specifically to a target sequence present on an RNA molecule. Such binding interferes with translation by a variety of means, including preventing the action of polymerases, RNA processing and recruiting and/or activating nucleases such as RNase H, RNase L and RNase P. The term "ribozyme" as used herein refers to an oligonucleotide or oligonucleotide analog capable of catalγticallγ cleaving a polynucleotide. The term "oligonucleotide" refers to a molecule consisting of DNA, RNA or DNA/RNA hybrids. The term "oligonucleotide analog" refers to a molecule comprising an oligonucleotide like structure, for example having a backbone and a series of bases, wherein the backbone and/or one or more of the bases can be other than the structures found in naturally occurring DNA and RNA. "Non-natural" oligonucleotide analogs include at least one base or backbone structure that is not found in natural DNA or RNA. Exemplary oligonucleotide analogs include, but are not limited to, DNA, RNA, phosphorothioate oligonucleotides, peptide nucleic acids (PNA), methoxγethyl phosphorothioates, oligonucleotide containing deoxyinosine or deoxy 5 πitroindole, and the like. The term "backbone" as used herein refers to a generally linear molecule capable of supporting a plurality of bases attached at defined intervals. Preferably, the backbone will support the bases in a geometry conducive to hybridization between the supported bases of a target polynucleotide. The term "non naturally occurring base" refers to a base other that A, C, G, T and U, and includes degenerate and universal bases as well as moieties capable of binding specifically to a natural base or to a non-naturally occurring base. Non naturally occurring bases include, but are not limited to, propγnγlcytosine, propynγlundine, diaminopuππe, 5-methylcytosιne, 7-deazaadenosιne and 7-deazaguanιne. The term "universal base" refers to a moiety that may be substituted for any base. The universal base need not contribute to hybridization, but should not significantly detract from hybridization. Exemplary universal bases include, but are not limited to, inosine, 5 nitromdole and 4 mtrobenzimidazole. The term "degenerate base" refers to a moiety that is capable of base-pairing with either any punne, or any pynmidine, but not both puπnes and pyπmidines. Exemplary degenerate bases include, but are not limited to, 6H, 8H 3,4-dιhydropyπmιdo[4,5 c][1 ,2]oxazιn-7-one ("P", a pynmidine mimic) and 2-amιno-6-methoxyamιnopuπne ("K", a punne mimic). The term "target polynucleotide" refers to DNA, for example as found in a living cell, with which the antisense molecule is intended to bind or react. The term "activity" refers to the ability of an antisense molecule of the invention, when hybridized to a target polynucleotide, to interfere with the transcription and/or translation of the target polynucleotide. Preferably, the interference arises because the antisense molecule, when hybridized, recruits a nuclease, and/or serves as a nuclease substrate. The term "interference" includes inhibition to any detectable degree. The term "RNase H recruiting" refers to an oligonucleotide having at least one phosphorothioate and/or phosphodiester backbone. This type of backbone is recognized by RNase H once a RNA/DNA hybrid is formed and allows RNAse H to cleave the target RNA. The term "non-RNase H-recruiting" refers to an oligonucleotide having linkages other than deoxγphosphodiester or deoxyphosphorothioate linkages, including, but not limited to, 2' 0-alkyl, PNA, methylphosphonate, 3'-amιdate, 2' F, morpholino, 2'-0-alkylamιnoalkyl and 2'-alkoxyalkyl. This type of oligonucleotide is not recognized by RNase H after formation of a DNA/RNA hybrid. The term "RNase L recruiting" refers to an oligonucleotide comprising four consecutive adenosme bases in 2', 5'-lιnkage which form an oligomer. This oligomer is recognized by RNase L once a DNA/RNA hybrid is formed (See U. S. Patent No. 5,583,032). The term "RNase P recruiting" refers to an oligonucleotide capable of forming a stem-loop structure which is recognized by RNase P, an enzyme normally involved in generation of mature tRNA by cleaving a portion of tRNA precursor molecules. This stem-loop structure resembles the native tRNA substrate and is described by Ma et al. (Antisense Nucl. Acid Drug Dev 8:415-426, 1998) and in U.S. Patent No. 5,877,162. The antisense oligonucleotides and oligonucleotide analogs of the invention are preferably between 6 and about 50 bases long, more preferably between about 10 and 30 bases long, and most preferably between about 15 and 25 bases long. Oligonucleotides having 18 base pairs are particularly preferred. The antisense oligonucleotides and oligonucleotide analogs of the invention typically contain at least one universal or degenerate base, and at least one modified backbone linkage. In general, these oligonucleotides do not contain more than about 50% universal and/or degenerate bases. The oligonucleotides and oligonucleotide analogs of the present invention can be synthesized using standard oligonucleotide synthesis methods (see Example 1). The oligonucleotides used in the binding domains can employ any any backbone and any sequence capable of resulting in a molecule that hybridizes to natural DNA and/or RNA. Examples of suitable backbones include, but are not limited to, phosphodiesters and deoxγphosphodiesters, phosphorothioates and deoxyphosphorothioates, 2' 0- substituted phosphodiesters and deoxγ analogs, 2' 0-substιtuted phosphorothioates and deoxy analogs, morpholino, PNA (U. S. Patent No. 5,539,082), 2' 0 alkyl methylphosphonates, 3' amidates, MMI, alkyl ethers (U. S. Patent No. 5,223,618) and others as described in U S. Patent Nos 5,378,825, 5,489,677, 5,541,307, and the like. Where RNase activity is desired, a backbone capable of serving as an RNase substrate is employed for at least a portion of the oligonucleotide. Universal bases suitable for use in the present invention include, but are not limited to, deoxy 5-nιtroιndole, deoxy 3-nιtropyrrole, deoxγ 4 nitrobenzimidazole, deoxγ nebulanne, deoxγinosme, 2'-0Me inosine, 2' OMe 5-nιtroindole, 2'-0Me 3-nιtropγrrole, 2'-F inosine, 2' F nebulanne, 2'-F 5-nιtroιndole, 2'-F 4-nιtrobenzιmιdazole, 2'-F 3-nιtropγrrole, PNA-5-ιntroιndole, PNA-nebulaπne, PNA-ιnosιne, PNA-4 nitrobenzimidazole, PNA-3 mtropyrrole, morpholιπo-5- nitroindole, morpholino-nebulanne, morpholino inosine, morpholino 4 nitrobenzimidazole, morpholino 3 mtropyrrole, phosphoramιdate-5-πιtroιπdole, phosphoramidate-nεbularine, phosphoramidate-inosine, phosphoramιdate-4- mtrobenzimidazole, phosphoramιdate-3 πitropγrrole, 2' 0 methoxγethγl inosine, 2'-0 methoxγethyl nebulanne, 2' 0- methoxγethγl 5-nιtroιndole, 2' 0 methoxγethγl 4-nιtro benzimidazole, 2' 0 methoxyethyl 3 mtropyrrole, deoxy R„ P-5- mtroiπdole dimer 2'-0l\Λe R p MP 5-nιtroιndole di er and the like. Degenerate bases suitable for use in the present invention include, but are not limited to, deoxγ P (A&G), deoxy K (U&C), 2'-0Me 2-amιnopuπne (U&C), 2'-0Me P (G&A), 2' 0Me K (U&C), 2'-F-2-amιnopurιne (U&C), 2'-F P (G&A), 2' F K (U&C), PNA-2-amιnopurιne (U&C), PNA-P (G&A), PNA-K (U&C), morpholιno-2-amιnopurιne (U&C), morpholino P (G&A), morpholino K (U&C), phosphoramιdate-2-amιnopurιne (C&U), phosphoramidate-P (G&A), phosphoramιdate-K (U&C), 2' 0 methoxyethγl 2-amιnopurιne (U&C), 2' 0 methoxγethyl P (G&A), 2'-0-methoxγethyl K (U&C), deoxy R p MP KP dimer, deoxγ R p MP PK dimer, deoxy R p MP-Kk dimer, deoxy R p MP PP dimer, 2' OMe R p MP KP dimer, 2' OMe R p MP PK dimer, 2' OMe R p MP KK dimer, 2' OMe R p MP PP dimer and the like. The present invention provides methods for use of universal and/or degenerate bases in antisense oligonucleotides to provide single antisense molecules that target more than one gene. These universal and/or degenerated bases can be used in either the RNase H portion or non-RNase H portion of antisense molecules. The ability to bind to more than one base on a target provides the flexibility of making one antisense molecule that targets more than one RNA sequence. Oligonucleotide sγnthesis is well known in the art, as is sγnthesis of oligonucleotides containing modified bases and backbone linkages. In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotide having between 6 and about 50 bases in which at least one of its bases are replaced with universal and/or degenerate bases. In a preferred embodiment, no more than about 50% of the bases are universal and/or degenerate bases. Another oligonucleotide for use in the present invention comprises a non-RNase recruiting portion of between 3 and about 15 bases, followed bγ an RNase-recruitiπg portion of between 3 and about 15 bases, followed bγ a second non RNase H recruiting portion of 3 to about 15 bases, wherein at least one of the bases contained in the oligonucleotide are degenerate and/or universal bases. In a preferred embodiment, no more than about 50% of the bases are universal and/or degenerate bases. Another antisense oligonucleotide contemplated for use in the present invention comprises a non RNase H recruiting portion followed bγ a RNase H-recruiting portion in which at least one of its bases are replaced with universal and/or degenerate bases. In a preferred embodiment, no more than about 50% of the bases are universal and/or degenerate bases. An antisense oligonucleotide comprising an RNase H-recruiting portion followed bγ a non-RNase H-recruitmg portion, in which at least one of its bases are replaced with degenerate and/or universal bases, is also within the scope of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, no more than about 50% of the bases are universal and/or degenerate bases. Other antisense oligonucleotides contemplated for use in the present invention include: an oligonucleotide comprising an RNase L recruiting oligonucleotide 2' 5' adenosiπe moietγ in which the oligonucleotide comprises at least one degenerate and/or universal base; and an oligonucleotide designed to recruit RNase P in which the oligonucleotide comprises at least one degenerate and/or universal base. In a preferred embodiment, no more than about 50% of the bases are universal and/or degenerate bases. Another embodiment of the invention is a nbozγme in which at least one base within the RNA targeting sequence is a degenerate and/or universal base. In a preferred embodiment, no more than about 50% of the bases are universal and/or degenerate bases. The minimum sequence requirements for nbozγme activitγ are described bγ Benseler et al. (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 115:8483-8484, 1993). Hammerhead πbozγme molecules comprise end domains ("I" and "III") which hybridize to the substrate polynucleotide, a catalytic portion, and a stem loop structure ("II") which can be substituted bγ a variety of other structures capable of holding the molecule together. The antisense oligonucleotides of the present invention can be used to target one or more genes, more preferablγ therapeutic genes, and most preferablγ anti apoptosis or chemoresistance genes as described in the examples presented below. Representative classes of antisense oligonucleotides for use in the present invention are shown below. Although this figure shows 18 mers, this should be considered illustrative rather than limiting. 5'-NNN NNN BBB BBB NNN NNN-3' (SEQ ID NO: 1) 5'-NNN NNN BBB BBB NNN NNN-3' (SEQ ID NO: 2) 5'-NNN NNN BBB BBB NNN NNN 3' (SEQ ID NO: 3) 5'-NNN NNN BBB BBB NNN NNN 3' (SEQ ID NO: 4) 5'-NNN BNN BBN BNB NBN NBN 3' (SEQ ID NO: 5) 5'-NNN BNN BBN BNB NBN NBN 3' (SEQ ID NO: 6) 5' NNN BNN BBN BNB NBN NBN-3' (SEQ ID NO: 7) 5'-a ' a " a ' a ' NNN BNN BBN BNB NBN NBN-3' (SEQ ID NO: 8) 5'-NNN BNN BBNffBNB NBN NBN-3' (SEQ ID NO: 9) 5'-NNN BNN BBN&BNB NBN NBN 3' (SEQ ID NO: 10) 5'-NNNBN BBNBNBNBNNBN 3' (SEQ ID NO: 11) In these sequences, B is a universal base or degenerate base; N is a natural or non-naturally occurring base capable of specific recognition of an RNA target base including, but not limited to, A, C, G, T, U, propynγl C, propγnγl U, diamopunne, 5-MeC, 7-deaza A and 7-deaza G. The underline represents the non-RNase H recruiting section, including, but not limited to, 2'-0-alkγl, PNA, methγlphosphonate, 3' amidate, 2' F, morpholino, 2'-0-alkγlamιnoalkγl and 2'-alkoxγalkγl. The " " represents a linker including, but not limited to the one disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 5,583,032. The "#" represents the nbozyme cleaving portion of a nbozyme oligonucleotide; the "&" represents the stem loop structure that recruits RNase P; and a ' a ' a ' a ' represents a tetramer of oligomeπc 2' 5' adenosme. SEQ ID NO: 11 is also designed to recruit RNase P by inducing formation of a loop structure on the target RNA which is a substrate for RNase P (See U S. Patent No. 5,877,162). The antisense oligonucleotides and πbozγmes described above are used to cleave one or more target RNA molecules in vitro or in vivo. Example 1 Oligonucleotide synthesis All reagents are used drγ ( < 30 ppm water) Oligonucleotide synthesis reagents are purchased from Glen Research Amidites in solution are dried over Trap paks (Perkin Elmer Applied Biosystems, Norwalk, CT). A solid support previously denvatized with a dimethoxy tntyl (DMT) group protected propyl linker is placed in a DNA sγnthesizer column compatible with a Perkin Elmer Applied Biosγstems Expedite sγnthesizer (1 mmol of starting propyl linker). The DMT group is removed with a deblock reagent (2.5% dichloroacetic acid in dichloromethane). The standard protocols for RNA and DNA sγnthesis are applied to amidites (0.1 M in drγ acetonitnle). The amidites are activated with tetrazole (0.45 M in drγ acetonitnle). Coupling times are typically up to 15 minutes depending on the amidite. The phosphomte intermediate is treated with an oxidizing Beaucage sulfu zing reagent. After each oxidation step, a capping step is performed which places an acetγl group on anγ remaining uncoupled 5' OH groups bγ treatment with a mixture of two capping reagents: CAP A (acetic anhγdnde) and CAP B (n methγlimidazoie in THF). The cγcle is repeated a sufficient number of times with various amidites to obtain the desired sequence. After the desired sequence is obtained, the support is treated at 55°C in concentrated ammonium hγdroxide for 16 hours. The solution is concentrated on a speed vac and the residue is taken up in 100 ml aqueous 0.1 M tnethγlammoπium acetate. This is applied to an HPLC column (C 18, Kromasil, 5 mm, 4.3 mm diameter, 250 mm length) and eluted with an acetonitnle gradient (solvent A, 0.1 M TEAA; solvent B, 0.1 M TEAA and 50% acetonitnle) over 30 minutes at 1 ml/mm flow rate. Fractions containing greater than 80% pure product are pooled and concentrated. The resulting residue is taken up in 80% acetic acid in water to remove the tntyl group and reapp ed to a reverse phase column and purified as described above. Fractions containing greater than 90% purity are pooled and concentrated. The antisense activity of the oligonucleotides of the invention can be determined bγ standard assay methods as described, for example, in Examples 24 In general, one can prepare a target polynucleotide having a known sequence, contact the target with oligomers of the invention selected to bind the target sequence to form a complex, subject the complex to cleavage with the desired target nuclease and analyze the products to determine if cleavage occurred. The activitγ can be determined bγ detecting cleaved target polγnucleotides directly (e.g., bγ hybridization to a labeled probe, amplification bγ PCR, visualization on a gel, and the like), or bγ an effect on a host cell phenotγpe (for example, expression or lack of expression of a selected protein). The RNase H cleavage assaγ is described below Example 2 RNase H cleavage assay PCR is used to prepare a dsDNA fragment encoding part of secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) using the following primers: P3 • 5' CGAAA-TTAAATCGACTCACTAT 3' (SEQ ID NO: 12), P3.1 ■ 3' GCTTTAATTATGCTGAGTGATATCCCGAAGCTTAGCGCTTAAGCGGGTGGT- ACGACGACGACGACGACGACGACCCGGAC 5' (SEQ ID NO: 13); P4 - 3'-TAGGGTCAACTCCTCCTCTTGG-5' (SEQ ID NO: 14); and P5 • 3'-TACGAC GACGACGACGACGACGACCCGGACTCCGATGTCGAGAGGGACCCGTAGTA- GGGTCAACTCCTCCTCTTGG-5' (SEQ ID NO: 15). These primers are based on the SEAP RNA fragment (1 to 102) having the sequence: 5'- GGGCTTCGAATCGCGAATTCGCCCACCATGCTGCTGCTGCTGCTGCTGGGCCTGAGGCTACAGCTCTCCCTGGGCATCAT CCCAGTTGAGGAGGAGAACC 3' (SEQ ID NO: 16). PCR amplification is performed under the manufacturer's (Life Technologies) recommendation reaction conditions. Primers P3.1 and P5 are used at 10 nM, while primers P3 and P4 are used at 0.50 μM. The PCR program is 94°C for 5 minutes, 35 cγcles at 52°C for 30 seconds, 72°C for 1 minute, 94°C for 45 seconds and 72°C for 10 minutes. SEAP dsDNA is then transcribed into ssRNA using a RiboMax™ large scale RNA kit (Promega, Madison, Wl). The SEAP DNA concentration is 30 μg/ml. The transcription reaction is terminated bγ adding DNase I and incubating at 37°C for 15 minutes. DNA fragments and free nucleotides are removed by precipitation in ethanol/sodium acetate and washing with 70% ethanol. The RNA was suspended and diluted to approximately 2 μM for use in the RNase H activity assays. Oligonucleotides of the present invention complementary to a portion of SEAP RNA (20 μM each), SEAP RNA (10 μl of 2 μM solution), and Tπs/EDTA buffer (10 mM Tris HCl, pH 7.4, 1 mM EDTA, "TE", qs to 2 μl) are added to 500 μl thin-wall reaction tubes and incubated for 3 to 5 minutes at 40°C to reach thermal equilibrium. RNase H buffer (10X 200 mM Tris HCl, pH 7.4 7.5, 1,000 mM KCI, 100 mM MgCI 2 .6H 2 0, 0.5 mM dithiothreitol, 25% w/v sucrose), RNase H (0 4 to 0 6 U, Promega), and water (qs to 20 μl), are combined to form a cocktail, and incubated for 3 to 5 minutes at 40 °C. Then, 8μl of the cocktail is added to each reaction tube and mixed as quickly as possible to prevent cooling. Reactions are incubated at 40°C for 30 minutes in an MJ Research (Watertown, MA) PCT-100 temperature controller. Reactions are stopped by adding 20 μl FDE sample buffer (90% v/v formamide, 10% v/v 10X TBE buffer, 0.5% w/v bromphenol blue, 25 M EDTA) (1 XTBE: 89 mM Tris base, 89 mM boric acid, 2 mM EDTA, pH 8.0) to each reaction and heating to 90°C for 3 to 5 minutes. Each sample (8 to 10 μl) is subjected to polγacrylamide gel electrophoresis on denaturing 15% gels at 200 volts for about one hour, or until the dye front reaches the bottom of the gel Nucleic acid bands in gels are visualized bγ soaking the gels in a 1.10,000 dilution of Cγber Gold™ (Molecular Probes, Junction Citγ, OR) in 1X TBE for 5-10 minutes, soaking in 1X TBE for an additional 5 10 minutes and irradiating on a short wave UV transilluminator. The results are recorded bγ photographing the CγberGold™ fluorescence using a CγberGREEN™ filter and a Polaroid MP-4 camera with Polaroid Tγpe 667 3000 ASA black and white film. Duplex DNA ladders (20 bp and 100 bp, GenSura, San Diego) are used as size standards. Standard ladders are not heated before loading onto gels, and are undenatured, running as duplex DNA fragments in both denaturing and non-denaturing gels. Example 3 Iπtracellular antisense activity against protein kinase C alpha (PKCα) Protein kinase C alpha (PKCα) is used as a gene target to demonstrate antisense activity of the oligonucleotides comprising degenerate and/or universal bases of the invention. PKCα is a normal human gene that is overexpressed in a majoritγ of human cancer tγpes, and is one of the most highiγ publicized of all antisense target genes. A human bladder carcinoma cell line (T-24, ATCC HTB-4) , a cell line known to overexpress PKCα, is cultured using standard methods: 37°C, 5% C0 2 in 75 cm 2 flasks in McCoγ's 5A medium (Mediatech, Herndon, VA) with 10% fetal bovine serum and peniciilin-streptomγcin. For antisense experiments, T-24 cells are plated into 12-well plates, at 75,000 cells/well and allowed to adhere and recover overnight before transfectioπ. The oligonucleotide 5'- GTTCTCXXXXXXGAGTTT-3' (SEQ ID NO: 17) in which the X residues are universal and/or degenerate bases (the same or different), and in which remaining residues are connected bγ modified backbone linkages other than phosphorothioate linkages, and a control oligonucleotide, are transfected into T-24 cells using a cationic lipid- containiπg cγtofection agent (LipofectACE™) (GibcoBRL, Gaithersburg, MD) which provides efficient nuclear delivery of fluorescently labeled oligonucleotides of the invention in T-24. This is an analog of 5'-GTTCTCGCTGGTGAGTTTCA-3' (SEQ ID NO: 18) which is a known PKCα antisense molecule. Oligonucleotides of the invention and conventional all-phosphorothioate oligonucleotides are diluted into 1.5 ml of reduced serum medium Opti-MEM * I (GibcoBRL) to a concentration of 400 nM each. The oligonucleotide- containing solutions are then mixed with an equal volume of OPti-MEM I containing LipofectACE sufficient to give a final lipid to oligonucleotide ratio of 5 to 1 bγ weight. The final concentration of oligonucleotide is 200 nM. The oligonucleotide/lipid complexes are incubated at room temperature for 20 minutes before adding to tissue culture cells. Cells are washed once in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) to rinse awaγ serum-containing medium, followed bγ addition of 1 ml transfection mix to each well of a 12-well plate. All transfections are performed in triplicate. The cells are allowed to take up oligonucleotide/lipid complexes for 22 hours prior to harvesting the total cellular RNA. Mock transfections consist of cells treated with Opti-MEM 1 onlγ. After 22 hours of antisense treatment, total RNA is harvested from the cells. The cells are released from the plates by trypsin/EDTA treatment according to standard methods. The triplicate groups of cells are pooled and total cγtoplasmic RNA is isolated using an RNeasγ kit (QIAGEN) according to the manufacturer's protocols. The RNA is treated with DNase I and UV quantitated according to standard methods. Reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is performed with the methods and materials from a Superscript One-Step RT-PCR kit from GibcoBRL. The RT-PCR reactions to detect PKCα are performed in two independent runs, with PKCα-specific primers from Oxford Biomedical Research and 100 ng of input total RNA. Control multiplex RT-PCRs (MP RT-PCRs) are performed to confirm equal quantities of input RNA into each PKCα RT PCR. The primers, reagents and protocol are from Maxim Biotech. The control MP RT-PCRs amplify BAX and LICE genes equally in all samples, confirming that equal amounts of intact RNA are added to the PKCα RT-PCRs. All RT-PCR reactions are performed according to the following program of a PTC- 1000 thermocycler (MJ Research): Step 1 , 50°C for 35 minutes; Step 2, 94°C for 2 minutes; Step 3, 55°C for 30 seconds; Step 4; 72°C for 1 minute; Step 5, 94°C for 30 seconds; Step 6, go to step 3, 33 more times; Step 7, 72°C for 10 minutes; Step 8, end. all RT-PCR products are separated on a 4% Super Resolution Agarose TBE gel (Apex) and stained with Cyber Gold™ according to the manufacturer's instructions. Gels are photographed on Polaroid Type 667 film. Example 4 Antisense activity against human Bcl2 gene in tissue culture cells B cell lymphoma associated gene 2 (Bcl2) is a "normal" human gene that is overexpressed in a majority of human cancer types. The Bcl2 protein regulates cell death and BCI overexpression is known to cause cells to be chemotherapy and radiation resistant. The following Bcl2 targeted antisense molecule is sγnthesized: 5'-TCTXCCXXCXTXCXCCXT 3' (SEQ ID NO: 19), in which X is the same or different universal and/or degenerate bases, and in which the first nine residues are a non RNase H recruiting region (i. e., contain modified backbone linkages other than phosphorothioate linkages). This is an analog of the oligonucleotide 5'-TCTCCCAGCGTGCGCCAT 3' (SEQ ID NO: 20). T-24 cells are plated at 75,000 cells/well and allowed to adhere and recover overnight before oligonucleotide transfections. Test and control oligonucleotides are traπsfected into T 24 cells using LipofectACE™. Oligonucleotides are diluted into 1.5 ml of reduced serum medium (OptiMEM™, GibcoBRL) to a concentration of 400 nM each. The oligonucleotide containing solutions are then mixed with an equal volume of Opti MEM I containing LipofectACE sufficient to five a final lipid to oligonucleotide ratio of 5 to 1 bγ weight, the final concentration of oligonucleotide is 200 nM The oligonucleotide/lipid complexes are incubated at room temperature for 20 minutes before adding to tissue culture cells. Cells are washed once in PBS , followed bγ addition of 1 ml of transfection mixed into each well of a 12-well plate. All transfections are performed in triplicate. Cells are allowed to take up oligonucleotide/lipid complexes for 24 hours prior to harvesting of total cellular RNA. Mock transfections consist of cells treated with OPti-MEM I only. Total cytoplasmic RNA is isolated and quantitated as described in Example 3. RT-PCR is performed as described in Example 3. The RT PCR reactions to detect bcl 2 are performed with the primers: 5' GGTGCCACCTGTGGTCCACCTG 3' (SEQ ID NO. 21) and 5' CTTCACTTGTGGCCCAGATAGG-3' (SEQ ID ND. 22) and 1 μg of input total RNA. Control RT PCR reactions against β-actin are also performed using the primers 5'-GAGCTGCGTGTGGCTCCCGAGG-3' (SEQ ID NO: 23) and 5' CGCAGGATGGCATGGGGGGCATACCCC-3' (SEQ ID NO: 24) and 0.1 μg of input total RNA. All bcl-2 and β-actin RT-PCR reactions are performed according to the following program on a PTC-100 thermocγcler (MJ Research): Step 1, 50°C for 35 minutes; Step 2, 94°C for 2 minutes; Step 3, 60°C for 30 seconds; Step 4, 72°C for 1 minute; Step 5, 94°C for 30 seconds; Step 6, go to step 3, 35 more times; Step 7, 72°C for 10 minutes; Step 8, end. All RT-PCR products are separated on a 4% Super Resolution Agarose TBE gel and stained with CγberGold™ according to the manufacturer's instructions. Gels are photographed on Polaroid Type 667 film. Example 5 Antisense targeting of bcl 2A and bcl-xL Manγ tumors overexpress multiple chemoresistance genes simultaneously, and are thus unlikely to respond to antisense-based therapies against onlγ one specific chemoresistance gene at a time. Knockout of multiple resistance genes with a single antisense oligonucleotide can enhance chemosensitization in resistant tumors. A known example of such simultaneous expression of chemoresistance genes is bcl 2A and bcl-xL which are distinct, but related, transforming oncogenes are are overexpressed in manγ human cancers. Most importantly, the overexpression of both bcl 2 family members has been shown to confer chemoresistance to cells. Previously reported attempts to knock out both genes simultaneously were based on conventional oligonucleotides that are perfectlγ complementarγ to one gene or the other, but not both, and thus have several mismatches and low activitγ against one of the target genes. Thus, these attempts have relied on non-specific RNase H-dependent activitγ of long oligonucleotides. In contrast, the use of two or more oligonucleotides, one targeted against each gene, is far more likely to result in toxic effects and to produce non specific antisense activitγ. The present invention provides a single antisense oligonucleotide for simultaneous knockout of two or more genes. For example, bcl 2 and bcl xL are simultaneously targeted with a single oligonucleotide containing one or more universal and/or degenerate bases targeted to the small region of high nucleotide homology shown in Figure 1. Six representative antisense oligonucleotides containing one or more universal and/or degenerate bases, and the regions to which theγ hybridize, are shown in Fig. 1. (Human bcl 2 mRNA (HUMBCL2A) GenBank #M13994; bcl xL mRNA (HSBCLXL) - GenBank #Z23115) Asterisks indicate mismatches in the region of nucleotide similarity. Base numbers are as defined in GenBank. Example 6 Targeting of two or more related genes The protein kinase C (PKC) gene family comprises gene products which regulate cell growth bγ phosphorγlating other proteins in response to extracellular signals. Overexpression of PKC genes has been detected in several human tumor types and PKC genes are believed to be potential cancer therapy targets. Despite the similarity of PKC family members at the protein level, the nucleotide sequences can be significantly different. Antisense oligonucleotides including one or more universal or ambiguous bases allows two or more PKC family members to be targeted at the nucleotide level. Figure 2 shows a sequence alignment of homology regions one and two of human PKCα mRNA (HSPKCA1; GenBank 0X52479), human PKCΘ mRNA (HUMPKCTH; GenBank #L07860) and human PKCδ mRNA (HUMPKCD13X, GenBank #L07860) Representative oligonucleotides for targeting two or three of these PKC family members are shown in Figure 2. Example 7 Targeting two alleles of the same gene Comparison of allelic variations is an important human oncogene, bcl-2, reveals several single nucleotide polγmorphisms (SNPs) within the general human population. Overexpression of anγ known allele of bcl-2 has been shown to confer chemoresistance in human tumors and is regarded as a poor prognostic indicator. Two or more alleles of the bcl-2 gene can be targeted with single oligonucleotides including one or more universal or degenerated bases without restriction bγ the occurrence of SNPs. The two regions of human bcl-2B (HUMBCL2B; GenBank #M13995) and human bcl 2C (HUMBCL2C, GenBank #M14745) are shown in Figure 3, as are representative oligonucleotides which target regions of both alleles. This allows an antisense oligonucleotide gene walk, the evaluation of a series of antisense oligonucleotides distributed throughout the entire length of overlap between the genetic alleles, to be performed without limitation bγ the occurrence of SNPs. If SNPs could not be included in the regions targeted by antisense oligonucleotides, the gene walk would be far less effective at identifying effective antisense target sites that yield efficient inhibition of gene expression. Example 8 Elimination of problematic antisense base sequence motifs The oligonucleotides flanked by "###" in Figure 3 illustrate another advantage of incorporation of universal and/or degenerate bases into antisense oligonucleoitdes, namely the elimination of "CG" dinucleotides and tetra-G sequences which can have deleterious effects as previously discussed. Thus, the use of universal and/or degenerate bases eliminates sequence-dependent, non-antisense effects bγ substituting universal and/or ambiguous bases into problematic sequence motifs. This is also illustrated below: Antι-bcl-2 : 3' GGGCCCGTGTGCGGGGTA (SEQ ID NO 25) (tetra-G) becomes: 3' GGGCCPGTGTGPGKGGTA (SEQ ID NO: 26) Antι-bcl-2 : 3'-CGTCTGGGGCCGACGGGGG (SEQ ID NO. 27) (double tetra-G) becomes: 3' CGTCTGKGGCCGACGGKGG (SEQ ID NO: 28) Aπtι-bcl-2: 3'-GGCCGCGGCGGCGCCCCG (SEQ ID NO: 29) (highly CG) becomes: 3' GGCPGPGGPGGPGCCCPG (SEQ ID NO: 30) While particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these embodiments are exemplary rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that defined in the following claims.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. An antisense oligonucleotide having at least one non naturally occurring backbone linkage and having between 6 and about 50 bases, wherein at least one of said bases are universal and/or degenerate bases. 2. The antisense oligonucleotide of Claim 1, wherein no more than about 50% of said bases are universal and/or degenerate bases. 3. An antisense oligonucleotide comprising a first non RNase H recruiting region having between 3 and about 15 bases, an RNase H recruiting region having between 3 and about 15 bases, and a second non-RNase H recruiting region, wherein at least one of said bases are universal and/or degenerate bases. 4. The antisense oligonucleotide of Claim 3, wherein no more than about 50% of said bases are universal and/or degenerate bases. 5. An antisense oligonucleotide comprising a non-RNase H recruiting section and an RNase H recruiting section, wherein at least one of said bases are universal and/or degenerate bases. 6 The antisense oligonucleotide of Claim 5, wherein no more than about 50% of said bases are universal and/or degenerate bases. 7. An oligonucleotide comprising an RNase L-recruiting region comprising a 2' 5' adenosme oligomer, wherein the RNA targeting region of said oligonucleotide comprises at least one universal and/or degenerate bases. 8. The oligonucleotide of Claim 7, wherein said RNA targeting region comprises no more than about 50% universal and/or degenerate bases. 9. An oligonucleotide designed to recruit RNase P, wherein the RNA targeting region of said oligonucleotide comprises at ieast one universal and/or degenerate bases. 10. The oligonucleotide of Claim 9, wherein said RNA targeting region comprises no more than about 50% universal and/or degenerate bases. 11. A nbozyme having an RNA targeting region which comprises at least one universal and/or degenerate bases. 12. The nbozyme of Claim 11, wherein said RNA targeting region comprises no more than about 50% universal and/or degenerate bases. 13. A method for cleaving a target RNA molecule, comprising the step of contacting said RNA molecule with an oligonucleotide according to anγ one of Claims 1-10 in the presence of an RNase capable of cleaving said target. 14. The method of Claim 13, wherein said RNase is selected from the group consisting of RNase H, RNase, L and RNase P. 1 . A method for cleaving a target RNA molecule, comprising the step of contacting said RNA molecule with a nbozγme according to Claims 11 or 12. 16. A method for cleaving one or more target RNA molecules, comprising the step of contacting said RNA molecule with an oligonucleotide having between 6 and about 50 bases, wherein said oligonucleotide comprises at least one universal and/or degenerate base., 17. A method for reducing the deleterious effects of an antisense oligonucleotide comprising one or more sequence motifs, comprising replacing one or more bases within said one or more sequence motifs with one or more universal and/or degenerate bases. 18. The method of Claim 17, wherein said sequence motif is a CG dinucleotide. 19. The method of Claim 17, wherein said sequence motif is a polγ-G sequence.

Inventors: BROWN BOB D, RILEY TIMOTHY A, BROWN, BOB, D., RILEY, TIMOTHY, A.
Applicants: BROWN BOB D, OASIS BIOSCIENCES INC, RILEY TIMOTHY A, BROWN, BOB, D., OASIS BIOSCIENCES, INC., RILEY, TIMOTHY, A.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: C12Q1
IPC codes: A61K38, C12N9, C12N15