Ribozymes having 2′-O substituted nucleotides in the flanking sequences
AssigneeUniversity of Massachusetts Worcester
InventorJohn Goodchild
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Abstract
The present invention provides methods for increasing ribozyme catalytic activity without reducing specificity, which methods comprise contacting an RNA molecule with a ribozyme having a flanking sequence modified to contain 2′-O-substituted nucleotides. The invention also provides ribozymes comprising a flanking sequence modified to contain 2′-O-substituted nucleotides. In addition, the invention provides methods for increasing ribozyme catalytic activity comprising contacting an RNA molecule with a ribozyme having a flanking sequence modified to contain a 2′-O-substituted nucleotide and a facilitator oligonucleotide. The present invention further provides compositions comprising a ribozyme having modified flanking sequences and an effective amount of a facilitator oligonucleotide.
Claims16
A hammerhead ribozyme having the sequences 5′ GCA CAC UCU GAU GCC GUU AGG CCG AAA CUA AA 3′ SEQ ID NO 7 where the nucleotides forming the 5′ CACU 3′ and 5′ CUAA 3′ sequences of the ribozyme are 2′-O-methyl nucleotides.
A method for increasing the catalytic activity of a ribozyme having the sequence 5′ GCA CAC UCU GAU GAG GCC GUU AGG CCG AAA CUA AA 3′ SEQ ID NO 8 comprising preparing the ribozyme to have 2′-O-methyl nucleotides in the 5′ CACU 3′ and 5′ CUAA 3′ sequences of the ribozyme.
A hammerhead ribozyme comprising one or more 2′-O-methyl substituted nucleotides in one or both of the ribozyme's flanking regions.
A hairpin ribozyme comprising one or more 2′-O-methyl substituted nucleotides in the ribozyme's flanking region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.