Patent ID: 8598143

Claim:
A method for inhibiting RNA silencing of a gene, comprising, contacting a mammalian cell or organism containing an exogenous siRNA duplex that directs RNA silencing of the gene by RISC-mediated cleavage, with a single-stranded, nuclease resistant RNA oligonucleotide RISC inactivator between about 10-40 nucleotides in length, wherein the RISC inactivator comprises a nucleotide sequence sufficiently complementary to a guide strand sequence of the siRNA duplex to inhibit RNA silencing of the gene by the siRNA duplex, wherein the RISC inactivator comprises modified ribonucleotides, and wherein the RISC inactivator is a stochiometric, irreversible inhibitor of RISC function, such that RNA silencing of the gene is inhibited, wherein the RNA silencing is RNA interference.