Patent ID: 7696337

Claim:
A kit for use in synthesizing multiple copies of an RNA target sequence contained within a target nucleic acid, the kit comprising: a priming oligonucleotide which hybridizes to the 3′-end of the RNA target sequence and primes the synthesis of a first DNA primer extension product complementary to the RNA target sequence; a cap hybridized to the 3′-end of the priming oligonucleotide, the cap comprising a base region which is complementary to at least 3 nucleotides at the 3′-end of the priming oligonucleotide, wherein the 5′-terminal base of the cap is complementary to the 3′-terminal base of the priming oligonucleotide, and wherein the cap cannot be extended by a nucleic acid polyerase; a promoter oligonucleotide comprising a first region which hybridizes to a 3′-region of the first DNA primer extension product and a second region which is a promoter for an RNA polymerase, the promoter oligonucleotide being modified to prevent the initiation of DNA synthesis therefrom; and a binding molecule which binds to the target nucleic acid adjacent to or near the 5′-end of the RNA target sequence, provided that any oligonucleotide included in the kit which comprises a promoter for an RNA polymerase is modified to prevent the initiation of DNA synthesis therefrom.