RNA cleaving DNA enzymes and methods of making and using same

Abstract

The present invention discloses enzymatic DNA molecules capable of cleaving RNA, referred to herein as the “Bipartite DNAzymes.” The Bipartite I DNAzyme is capable of self-cleavage at an internal ribonucleotide. The Bipartite II DNAzyme is capable of sequence-specific cleavage of RNA substrates. The sequence of the substrate binding arms of the Bipartite II DNAzyme can be modified to allow the DNAzyme to bind to and to cleave many different RNA molecules. This feature allows the Bipartite II DNAzyme to selectively cleave RNA in vitro, and it may allow the Bipartite II DNAzyme to selectively cleave RNA in cells, such as bacteria or virus infected cells, or cancer cells, where the RNA, or protein products encoded by the RNA, are implicated in various diseases. Methods of making and using the disclosed enzymes are also disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.