Blocking of gene expression in eukaryotic cells

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for designing a sequence for efficient short interference RNA molecules. In particular, the present invention defines a universal target for siRNA derived from a poly A sequence, optionally in conjunction with unique sequences for gene silencing and inhibition of viral replication in a eukaryotic host cell. The present invention further provides methods for the treatment and prevention of diseases and disorders by silencing a gene of a virus, an oncogene, genes encoding transcription factors and many other diseases related genes. The present invention describes antisense nucleic acids compositions comprising sequences complementary to a target nucleic acid. The antisense sequences are designed to hybridize to complementary nucleic acid target regions in a target RNA, and inhibit translation, processing, transport, or binding by proteins or riboproteins. Target regions include, and are limited to a poly-A tail, and exclude, AUG, 5′ non-translated sequences, translation initiation factor binding sites, ribosome subunit binding sites, Shine Dalgarno sequence, 3′ nontranslated sequences, poly-addition site, 3′ cleavage site, coding region, intron, intron branch site, intron/exon junction, and splice sequence.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.