Title: Methods and Compositions for Mediating Gene Silencing
Number: 20060069050
Filed: Feb. 17, 2005
Inventor: Tariq Rana, University of Massachusetts
The invention, the patent application's abstract states, "provides methods of conducting RNAi using siRNAs that are sequentially administered as single-stranded oligonucleotides. The siRNAs can be canonical or have non-canonical ends. The compositions and methods of the invention can bypass activation of interferon pathways and yet still efficiently and specifically activate RNAi/gene silencing," the abstract states. "In another embodiment, the siRNAs of the invention are modified to allow for the calculation of certain RNAi activities, e.g., RISC activity. The invention also provides methods of using the compositions in research, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications."
Title: Colon Cancer Metastasis Inhibitor
Number: 20060067919
Filed: Aug. 19, 2003 PCT Filed: Aug. 19, 2003
Inventor: Tetsu Akiyama, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences
The invention comprises "an agent for inhibiting metastasis of colorectal cancer and a method for inhibiting metastasis of colorectal cancer, which inhibit the function of Asef (i.e., binding activity to the APC gene product or guanine nucleotide exchange factor activity) that binds to the gene product of the tumor suppressor gene APC that plays an important role in tumorigenesis and in developmental processes, and/or inhibit the expression of the Asef gene," the patent application's abstract states.
The application specifically claims the use of RNAi to inhibit Asef.