Self-cleaving ribozymes and uses thereof
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A self-cleaving ribozyme, which efficiently cleaves an RNA molecule which comprises the self-cleaving ribozyme in a mammalian cell.
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Abstract
In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to compositions and methods relating to a ribozyme-based gene regulation system that functions in mammalian cells. In certain specific embodiments, the disclosure relates to schistosome self-cleaving RNA mutant motifs.
17 Citations
71 Claims
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1. A self-cleaving ribozyme, which efficiently cleaves an RNA molecule which comprises the self-cleaving ribozyme in a mammalian cell.
- 2. A schistosome ribozyme mutant, comprising a loop on stem III.
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8. A self-cleaving RNA motif having the nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:
- 64, wherein,
each N is independently any nucleotide;
each A, U, G and C, is adenosine, uridine, guanosine and cytidine, respectively;
n is 3-40; and
X at the 5′ and
Y at the 3′
end of said self-cleaving RNA motif are meant to indicate additional nucleotides which may be present or absent. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
- 64, wherein,
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11. (canceled)
- 12. A nucleic acid encoding a schistosome ribozyme mutant, wherein the schistosome ribozyme mutant comprises a loop on stem III.
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14. (canceled)
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15. (canceled)
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16. A recombinant polynucleotide molecule comprising:
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(a) a promoter;
(b) a nucleic acid encoding a nucleic acid product; and
(c) a nucleic acid encoding a schistosome ribozyme mutant motif, wherein the nucleic acid of (b) and the nucleic acid of (c) are operably linked to the promoter and transcription of the nucleic acid of (b) and the nucleic acid of (c) produces a RNA molecule comprising said schistosome ribozyme mutant motif and a mRNA encoding said nucleic acid product, wherein said schistosome ribozyme mutant motif is capable of cleaving said RNA molecule intramolecularly. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 25, 26, 27)
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20. (canceled)
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21. (canceled)
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22. (canceled)
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23. (canceled)
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24. (canceled)
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28. A viral vector comprising:
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(a) a promoter;
(b) a nucleic acid encoding a nucleic acid product;
(c) a nucleic acid encoding a schistosome ribozyme mutant motif, wherein the nucleic acid of (b) and the nucleic acid of (c) are operably linked to the promoter and transcription of the nucleic acid of (b) and the nucleic acid of (c) produces a RNA molecule comprising said schistosome ribozyme mutant motif and a mRNA encoding said nucleic acid product, wherein said schistosome ribozyme mutant motif is capable of cleaving said RNA molecule intramolecularly.
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29. (canceled)
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30. (canceled)
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31. (canceled)
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32. (canceled)
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33. A method of inducing expression of a nucleic acid product in a host cell comprising contacting said host cell with an agent which inhibits cleavage of a self-cleaving schistosome RNA mutant motif, wherein the host cell comprises:
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(a) a promoter;
(b) a nucleic acid encoding the nucleic acid product; and
(c) a nucleic acid encoding a self-cleaving RNA mutant motif, wherein the nucleic acid of (b) and the nucleic acid of (c) are operably linked to the promoter, and transcription of the nucleic acid of (b) and the nucleic acid of (c) produces a RNA molecule comprising said self-cleaving schistosome RNA mutant motif and mRNA encoding said nucleic acid product, wherein said self-cleaving schistosome RNA mutant motif is capable of cleaving said RNA molecule intramolecularly. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. (canceled)
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39. (canceled)
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40. (canceled)
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41. (canceled)
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42. A method of inducing expression of a nucleic acid product in an individual, comprising the steps of:
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(a) obtaining cells from the individual under conditions appropriate for cell growth and cell division;
(b) introducing into the cells obtained in step (a) a DNA construct which comprises;
(1) a promoter;
(2) a nucleic acid encoding a nucleic acid product; and
(3) a nucleic acid encoding said self-cleaving schistosome RNA mutant motif, wherein the nucleic acid of (2) and the nucleic acid of (3) are operably linked to said promoter, and transcription of the nucleic acid of (2) and the nucleic acid of (3) produces a RNA molecule comprising said self-cleaving schistosome RNA mutant motif and mRNA encoding said nucleic acid product, wherein said self-cleaving schistosome RNA mutant motif is capable of cleaving said RNA molecule intramolecularly;
(c) returning the cells produced in step (b) to the individual; and
(d) administering to the individual an agent which is capable of inhibiting cleavage of the self-cleaving schistosome RNA mutant motif. - View Dependent Claims (43)
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44. A method of inducing expression of a nucleic acid product in a host cell comprising contacting said host cell with an antisense oligonucleotide of a self-cleaving schistosome RNA mutant motif, wherein the host cell comprises:
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(a) a promoter;
(b) a nucleic acid encoding the nucleic acid product; and
(c) a nucleic acid encoding a self-cleaving RNA mutant motif, wherein the nucleic acid of (b) and the nucleic acid of (c) are operably linked to the promoter, and transcription of the nucleic acid of (b) and the nucleic acid of (c) produces a RNA molecule comprising said self-cleaving schistosome RNA mutant motif and mRNA encoding said nucleic acid product, wherein said self-cleaving schistosome RNA mutant motif is capable of cleaving said RNA molecule intramolecularly. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47)
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- 48. (canceled)
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49. (canceled)
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51. A method of screening for an agent which is capable of inhibiting the catalytic activity of a schistosome ribozyme mutant comprising:
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(a) introducing into host cells a DNA construct which comprises;
(1) a promoter;
(2) a nucleic acid encoding a reporter; and
(3) a nucleic acid encoding a schistosome ribozyme mutant, wherein the nucleic acid of (2) and the nucleic acid of (3) are downstream of the promoter and operably linked to said promoter;
(b) contacting said host cells with an agent to be assessed for its ability to inhibit catalytic activity of said schistosome ribozyme mutant under conditions appropriate for expression of said reporter; and
(c) assaying reporter activity, wherein detection of reporter activity in the presence of said agent greater than reporter activity in the absence of the said agent identifies the agent as one which inhibits the catalytic activity of said schistosome ribozyme mutant.
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52. A method for producing a transgenic nonhuman animal comprising introducing a DNA construct into a germ cell of a nonhuman animal or a germ cell of an ancestor of said animal, wherein said DNA construct comprises:
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(a) a promoter;
(b) a nucleic acid encoding a desired nucleic acid product; and
(c) a nucleic acid encoding a schistosome ribozyme mutant, wherein the nucleic acid of (b) and the nucleic acid of (c) are operably linked to said promoter and transcription of the nucleic acid of (b) and the nucleic acid of (c) produces a RNA molecule comprising said schistosome ribozyme mutant and a mRNA encoding said nucleic acid product, wherein said schistosome ribozyme mutant is capable of cleaving said RNA molecule intramolecularly. - View Dependent Claims (53)
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54. A method for determining the level of an inhibitor of a schistosome ribozyme mutant in a cell, comprising:
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(a) introducing into a cell a DNA construct which comprises;
(1) a promoter;
(2) a nucleic acid encoding a reporter; and
(3) a nucleic acid encoding a schistosome ribozyme mutant, wherein the nucleic acid of (2) and the nucleic acid of (3) are downstream of the promoter and operably linked to said promoter, under conditions which result in inhibition of the ribozyme mutant and expression of the reporter; and
(b) assaying reporter activity in the cell produced by (a), wherein the level of said inhibitor in the cell is identified by comparing the reporter activity with an appropriate control. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56)
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57. A method for determining the level of an inhibitor of a schistosome ribozyme mutant in a biological sample, comprising:
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(a) contacting a cell with the biological sample, wherein the cell expresses a DNA construct which comprises;
(1) a promoter;
(2) a nucleic acid encoding a reporter; and
(3) a nucleic acid encoding a schistosome ribozyme mutant, wherein the nucleic acid of (2) and the nucleic acid of (3) are downstream of the promoter and operably linked to said promoter, under conditions which result in inhibition of the ribozyme mutant and expression of the reporter; and
(b) assaying reporter activity in the presence of the biological sample, wherein the level of said inhibitor in the biological sample is identified by comparing the reporter activity with an appropriate control.
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- 58. A method of inhibiting activity of a catalytic RNA in a cell, comprising contacting a cell with an inhibitor of a schistosome ribozyme mutant.
- 62. A method of inhibiting infection by a virus or a pathogenic microorganism in a cell, comprising contacting a cell with an inhibitor of a schistosome ribozyme mutant.
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67. A kit for regulating gene expression, comprising a nucleic acid comprising:
- (a) a schistosome ribozyme mutant sequence; and
(b) a cloning site for introduction of a target nucleotide sequence to be transcribed operatively linked to the schistosome ribozyme mutant sequence. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70, 71)
- (a) a schistosome ribozyme mutant sequence; and
Specification