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Rna interference pathway genes as tools for targeted genetic interferenceRelated Patent Categories: Chemistry: Molecular Biology And Microbiology, Micro-organism, Tissue Cell Culture Or Enzyme Using Process To Synthesize A Desired Chemical Compound Or Composition, Preparing Compound Containing Saccharide Radical, N-glycoside, , Nucleotide, Polynucleotide (e.g., Nucleic Acid, Oligonucleotide, Etc.)Rna interference pathway genes as tools for targeted genetic interference description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060024798, Rna interference pathway genes as tools for targeted genetic interference. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION [0001] This application claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 60/159,776, filed Oct. 15, 1999, and No. 60/193,218, filed Mar. 30, 2000. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0003] This invention relates to the discovery of genes whose expression products are involved in mediation of genetic interference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] All eukaryotic organisms share similar mechanisms for information transfer from DNA to RNA to protein. RNA interference represents an efficient mechanism for inactivating this transfer process for a specific targeted gene. Targeting is mediated by the sequence of the RNA molecule introduced to the cell. Double-stranded (ds) RNA can induce sequence-specific inhibition of gene function (genetic interference) in several organisms including the nematode, C. elegans (Fire, et al., 1998, Nature 391:806-811), plants, trypanosomes, Drosophila, and planaria (Waterhouse et al., 1998, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94:13959-13964; Ngo et al., 1998, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95:14687-14692; Kennerdell and Carthew, 1998, Cell 95:1017-1026; Misquitta and Patterson, 1999, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96: 1451-1456; Sanchez-Alvorado and Newmark, 1999, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96:5049-5054). The discovery that dsRNA can induce genetic interference in organisms from several distinct phyla suggests a conserved mechanism and perhaps a conserved physiological role for the interference process. Although several models of RNAi have been proposed (Baulcombe, 1999, Curr. Biol. 9:R599-R601; Sharp, 1999, Genes & Dev. 13:139-141) the mechanisms of action of specific components of the pathway are not known. [0005] Attempts to overexpress a gene (e.g., a transgene) often lead only to transient expression of the gene. Furthermore, the even more undesirable effect of "cosuppression" can occur in which a corresponding endogenous copy of the transgene becomes inactivated. In some cases, transgene silencing leads to problems with the commercial or therapeutic application of transgenic technology to alter the genetic makeup of a cell, organism, or human patient. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The present invention relates to the discovery of RNA interference (RNAi) pathway genes which are involved in mediating double-stranded RNA-dependent gene silencing (genetic interference). RNAi requires a set of conserved cellular factors to suppress gene expression. These factors are the components of the RNAi pathway. The RNAi pathway mutations and genes described herein (e.g., rde-1, rde-2, rde-3, rde-4, rde-5, mut-2, and mut-7), and their protein products (e.g., RDE-1 and RDE-4) are useful tools for investigating the mechanisms involved in RNAi and developing methods of modulating the RNAi pathway. The sequences and methods described herein are useful for modulating the RNAi pathway and may be used in conjunction with other methods involving the use of genetic inhibition by dsRNA (e.g., see U.S. Ser. No. 09/215,257, filed Dec. 18, 1998, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). [0007] RNAi pathway components (e.g., RDE-1, RDE-4) provide activities necessary for interference. These activities may be absent or not sufficiently activated in many cell types, including those of organisms such as humans in which genetic interference may have potential therapeutic value. Components of the RNAi pathway in C. elegans may be sufficient when provided through transgenesis or as direct RNA:protein complexes to activate or directly mediate genetic interference in heterologous cells that are deficient in RNAi. [0008] Nucleic acid sequences encoding RNAi pathway components (e.g., RDE-1, RDE-4) are useful, e.g., for studying the regulation of the RNAi pathway. Such sequences can also be used to generate knockout strains of animals such as C. elegans. [0009] The nucleic acids of the invention include nucleic acids that hybridize, e.g., under stringent hybridization conditions (as defined herein), to all or a portion of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 (FIG. 5A-C) or its complement; SEQ ID NO:2 (FIG. 6A-D) or its complement, or SEQ ID NO:4 or its complement. The hybridizing portion of the hybridizing nucleic acids are preferably 20, 30, 50, or 70 bases long. Preferably, the hybridizing portion of the hybridizing nucleic acid is 80%, more preferably 95%, or even 98% or 100% identical to the sequence of a portion or all of a nucleic acid encoding an RDE-1 polypeptide or an RDE-4 polypeptide. Hybridizing nucleic acids of the type described above can be used as a cloning probe, a primer (e.g., a PCR primer), or a diagnostic probe. Preferred hybridizing nucleic acids encode a polypeptide having some or all of the biological activities possessed by a naturally-occurring RDE-1 polypeptide or an RDE-4 polypeptide e.g., as determined in the assays described below. [0010] Hybridizing nucleic acids may encode a protein that is shorter or longer than the RDE-1 protein or RDE-4 protein described herein. Hybridizing nucleic acids may also encode proteins that are related to RDE-1 or RDE-4 (e.g., proteins encoded by genes that include a portion having a relatively high degree of identity to the rde-1 gene or rde-4 gene described herein). [0011] The invention also features purified or isolated RDE-1 polypeptides and RDE-4 polypeptides. RDE-1 and RDE-4 polypeptides are useful for generating and testing antibodies that specifically bind to an RDE-1 or an RDE-4. Such antibodies can be used, e.g., for studying the RNAi pathway in C. elegans and other organisms. As used herein, both "protein" and "polypeptide" mean any chain of amino acids, regardless of length or post-translational modification (e.g., glycosylation or phosphorylation). Thus, the term "RNAi pathway polypeptide" includes a full-length, naturally occurring RNAi pathway polypeptide such as RDE-1 protein or RDE-4 protein, as well as recombinantly or synthetically produced polypeptides that correspond to a full-length, naturally occurring RDE-1 protein, RDE-4 protein, or to particular domains or portions of a naturally occurring RNAi pathway protein. [0012] RNAi pathway mutations and strains harboring those mutations (e.g., rde-1, rde-2, rde-3, rde-4, rde-5) are useful for studying the RNAi pathway, including identification of modulators of the RNAi pathway. [0013] RNAi pathway components (e.g., those associated with mut-7 and rde-2) can be used to desilence or prevent silencing of transgenes. To facilitate this function, such RNAi pathway components are inhibited using specific inhibitors of an RNAi pathway gene or its product. [0014] In one embodiment, the invention includes an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding an RDE-1 polypeptide. The nucleic acid molecule hybridizes under high stringency conditions to the nucleic acid sequence of Genbank Accession No. AF180730 (SEQ ID NO:2) or its complement, or the sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or its complement. In one embodiment, the isolated nucleic acid can complement an rde-1 mutation. The invention also encompasses an isolated nucleic acid whose nucleotide sequence encodes the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3. [0015] The invention also encompasses a substantially pure RDE-1 polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acids described herein. [0016] The invention features an antibody that specifically binds to an RDE-1 polypeptide. [0017] The invention also includes a method of enhancing the expression of a transgene in a cell, the method comprising decreasing activity of the RNAi pathway. In one embodiment of this invention, rde-2 expression or activity is decreased. [0018] The invention also features an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding an RDE-4 polypeptide, wherein the nucleic acid molecule hybridizes under high stringency conditions to the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4 or its complement. The invention also encompasses an isolated nucleic acid encoding an RDE-4 polypeptide, wherein the nucleic acid can complement an rde-4 mutation. The invention also encompasses an isolated nucleic acid encoding an RDE-4 polypeptide, in which the nucleotide sequence encodes the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5. [0019] The invention also features a substantially pure RDE-4 polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acids described herein. [0020] In another embodiment the invention features an antibody that specifically binds to an RDE-4 polypeptide. [0021] The invention also features a method of preparing an RNAi agent, the method includes incubating a dsRNA in the presence of an RDE-1 protein and an RDE-4 protein. Continue reading about Rna interference pathway genes as tools for targeted genetic interference... Full patent description for Rna interference pathway genes as tools for targeted genetic interference Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Rna interference pathway genes as tools for targeted genetic interference patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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