Patent ID: 7629321

Claim:
A method for specifically cleaving a preselected target messenger RNA, comprising: contacting the preselected target messenger RNA with a single-stranded oligomeric compound and a double-strand ribonuclease, wherein the single stranded oligomeric compound comprises an oligonucleotide consisting of 17 to 25 linked nucleosides wherein: the oligonucleotide is specifically hybridizable with the preselected target messenger RNA; the oligonucleotide comprises at least one sugar modified nucleoside, wherein the modification improves the affinity or specificity of the oligonucleotide for the preselected target messenger RNA or increases the resistance of the oligonucleotide to single-stranded nucleases, or both; and the oligonucleotide comprises a plurality of nucleosides comprising a 2′-hydroxyl pentofuranosyl sugar moiety.