United States Patent
US Patent 6506559: Genetic inhibition by double-stranded RNA
US 6506559 ยท granted 2003-01-14
| Patent Number | 6506559 |
|---|---|
| Title | Genetic inhibition by double-stranded RNA |
| Filed | 1998-12-18 |
| Granted | 2003-01-14 |
| Inventor(s) | Andrew Fire, Stephen Kostas, Mary Montgomery, Lisa Timmons, SiQun Xu, Hiroaki Tabara, Samuel E. Driver, Craig C. Mello |
| Assignee | Carnegie Institution of Washington |
| CPC Classification | C12N15/09, C12N15/79, C12N15/63 |
| Number of Claims | 2 |
Abstract
A process is provided of introducing an RNA into a living cell to inhibit gene expression of a target gene in that cell. The process may be practiced ex vivo or in vivo. The RNA has a region with double-stranded structure. Inhibition is sequence-specific in that the nucleotide sequences of the duplex region of the RNA and of a portion of the target gene are identical. The present invention is distinguished from prior art interference in gene expression by antisense or triple-strand methods.
Claims Summary
1. A method to inhibit expression of a target gene in a cell in vitro comprising introduction of a ribonucleic acid (RNA) into the cell in an amount sufficient to inhibit expression of the target gene, wherein the RNA is a double-stranded molecule with a first strand consisting essentially of a ribonucleotide sequence which corresponds to a nucleotide sequence of the target gene and a second strand consisting essentially of a ribonucleotide sequence which is complementary to the nucleotide sequence of the target gene, wherein the first and the second ribonucleotide strands are separate complementary strands that hybridize to each other to form said double-stranded molecule, and the double-stranded molecule inhibits expression of the target gene.
Inventors
- Andrew Fire
- Stephen Kostas
- Mary Montgomery
- Lisa Timmons
- SiQun Xu
- Hiroaki Tabara
- Samuel E. Driver
- Craig C. Mello
Assignee
Carnegie Institution of Washington