Abstract: A compound having the general formula shown below: where R1-6 are independently selected from the group consisting of an electron withdrawing group, an alkyl group, an aryl group, hydrogen, a heteroaryl group, and a five or six member ring structure formed from the R1 and R2 pair, the R3 and R4 pair, the R4 and R5 pair, or the R5 and R6 pair; R7 is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group; and Y is a nucleophile.

Abstract: A composition comprising an oligonucleotide having the structure 5?-Y1-L1-X-L2-Y2-3?. Y1 comprises a sequence of one or more DNA or RNA nucleotides, including a first nucleotide N1 having a 3? phosphate covalently linked to L1. Y2 comprises a sequence of one or more DNA or RNA nucleotides, including a second nucleotide N2 having a 5? phosphate covalently linked to L2. L1 and L2 each independently are a direct bond or a C1-C7 alkyl, alkynyl, alkenyl, heteroalkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, substituted aryl, cycloalkyl, alkylaryl, or alkoxyl group. X is R1 is a hydrogen or a C1-C8 alkyl. M is a label or ligand comprising a fused polycyclic aromatic moiety.

Abstract: The present invention comprises use of cleavable primers to perform qPCR detection of cDNA made from small RNA species. The cleavable primers offer improved specificity over standard PCR primers and are the method is compatible with a variety of methods to introduce priming sites at the 5?-end and 3?-end of the small RNA species.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for selectively reducing the expression of a gene product from a desired target gene, as well as treating diseases caused by expression of the gene. The method involves introducing into the environment of a cell an amount of a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) such that a sufficient portion of the dsRNA can enter the cytoplasm of the cell to cause a reduction in the expression of the target gene. The dsRNA has a first oligonucleotide sequence that is between 26 and about 30 nucleotides in length and a second oligonucleotide sequence that anneals to the first sequence under biological conditions. In addition, a region of one of the sequences of the dsRNA having a sequence length of from about 19 to about 23 nucleotides is complementary to a nucleotide sequence of the RNA produced from the target gene.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for selectively reducing the expression of a gene product from a desired target gene, as well as treating diseases caused by expression of the gene. The method involves introducing into the environment of a cell an amount of a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) such that a sufficient portion of the dsRNA can enter the cytoplasm of the cell to cause a reduction in the expression of the target gene. The dsRNA has a first oligonucleotide sequence that is between 26 and about 30 nucleotides in length and a second oligonucleotide sequence that anneals to the first sequence under biological conditions. In addition, a region of one of the sequences of the dsRNA having a sequence length of from about 19 to about 23 nucleotides is complementary to a nucleotide sequence of the RNA produced from the target gene.

Abstract: A compound having the general formula shown below: where R1-6 are independently selected from the group consisting of an electron withdrawing group, an alkyl group, an aryl group, hydrogen, a heteroaryl group, and a five or six member ring structure formed from the R1 and R2 pair, the R3 and R4 pair, the R4 and R5 pair, or the R5 and R6 pair; R7 is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group; and Y is a nucleophile.

Abstract: This invention pertains to methods for cloning microRNA (miRNA) and other small ribonucleic acid (RNA) species from relevant cell sources.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel method of labeling oligonucleotides, with reporter moieties, including but not limited to, quenchers, fluorophores, biotin, digoxigenin, peptides and proteins. In addition, this invention provides a method of detecting hybridization of oligonucleotides. This invention also provides novel azo quenchers having the general formula shown below. The invention further provides compositions comprising labeled oligonucleotides and solid supports. The invention also provides kits comprising at least one composition of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention is directed to compositions and methods for selectively reducing the expression of a gene product from a desired target gene in a cell, as well as for treating diseases caused by the expression of the gene. More particularly, the invention is directed to compositions that contain double stranded RNA (“dsRNA”), and methods for preparing them, that are capable of reducing the expression of target genes in eukaryotic cells. The dsRNA has a first oligonucleotide sequence that is between 25 and about 30 nucleotides in length and a second oligonucleotide sequence that anneals to the first sequence under biological conditions. In addition, a region of one of the sequences of the dsRNA having a sequence length of at least 19 nucleotides is sufficiently complementary to a nucleotide sequence of the RNA produced from the target gene to trigger the destruction of the target RNA by the RNAi machinery.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel method of labeling oligonucleotides, with reporter moieties, including but not limited to, quenchers, fluorophores, biotin, digoxigenin, peptides and proteins. In addition, this invention provides a method of detecting hybridization of oligonucleotides. This invention also provides novel azo quenchers having the general formula shown below. The invention further provides compositions comprising labeled oligonucleotides and solid supports. The invention also provides kits comprising at least one composition of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for amplifying nucleic acid polymer sequences in a high complexity nucleic acid sample. The unique compositions of the invention include a primer set composed of a mixture of two types of primers for DNA synthesis. For extension in one direction, the primers all contain modifications that destroy their ability to serve as templates that can be copied by DNA polymerases. For extension in the opposite direction the set includes at least one primer that can serve as a template and be replicated by DNA polymerases throughout its length. The method can be carried out by mixing the nucleic acid polymer sequence of interest with the set of DNA synthesis primers in an amplification reaction mixture. The reaction mixture is then subjected to temperature cycling analogous to the temperature cycling in PCR reactions. At least one primer in the primer set hybridizes to the nucleic acid polymer.

Abstract: The invention is directed to compositions and methods for selectively reducing the expression of a gene product from a desired target gene in a cell, as well as for treating diseases caused by the expression of the gene. More particularly, the invention is directed to compositions that contain double stranded RNA (“dsRNA”), and methods for preparing them, that are capable of reducing the expression of target genes in eukaryotic cells. The dsRNA has a first oligonucleotide sequence that is between 25 and about 30 nucleotides in length and a second oligonucleotide sequence that anneals to the first sequence under biological conditions. In addition, a region of one of the sequences of the dsRNA having a sequence length of at least 19 nucleotides is sufficiently complementary to a nucleotide sequence of the RNA produced from the target gene to trigger the destruction of the target RNA by the RNAi machinery.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel method of labeling oligonucleotides, with reporter moieties, including but not limited to, quenchers, fluorophores, biotin, digoxigenin, peptides and proteins. In addition, this invention provides a method of detecting hybridization of oligonucleotides. This invention also provides novel azo quenchers having the general formula shown below. The invention further provides compositions comprising labeled oligonucleotides and solid supports. The invention also provides kits comprising at least one composition of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for selectively reducing the expression of a gene product from a desired target gene, as well as treating diseases caused by expression of the gene. The method involves introducing into the environment of a cell an amount of a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) such that a sufficient portion of the dsRNA can enter the cytoplasm of the cell to cause a reduction in the expression of the target gene. The dsRNA has a first oligonucleotide sequence that is between 26 and about 30 nucleotides in length and a second oligonucleotide sequence that anneals to the first sequence under biological conditions. In addition, a region of one of the sequences of the dsRNA having a sequence length of from about 19 to about 23 nucleotides is complementary to a nucleotide sequence of the RNA produced from the target gene.

Abstract: The invention is directed to compositions and methods for selectively reducing the expression of a gene product from a desired target gene in a cell, as well as for treating diseases caused by the expression of the gene. More particularly, the invention is directed to compositions that contain double stranded RNA (“dsRNA”), and methods for preparing them, that are capable of reducing the expression of target genes in eukaryotic cells. The dsRNA has a first oligonucleotide sequence that is between 25 and about 30 nucleotides in length and a second oligonucleotide sequence that anneals to the first sequence under biological conditions. In addition, a region of one of the sequences of the dsRNA having a sequence length of at least 19 nucleotides is sufficiently complementary to a nucleotide sequence of the RNA produced from the target gene to trigger the destruction of the target RNA by the RNAi machinery.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for selectively reducing the expression of a gene product from a desired target gene, as well as treating diseases caused by expression of the gene. The method involves introducing into the environment of a cell an amount of a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) such that a sufficient portion of the dsRNA can enter the cytoplasm of the cell to cause a reduction in the expression of the target gene. The dsRNA has a first oligonucleotide sequence that is between 26 and about 30 nucleotides in length and a second oligonucleotide sequence that anneals to the first sequence under biological conditions. In addition, a region of one of the sequences of the dsRNA having a sequence length of from about 19 to about 23 nucleotides is complementary to a nucleotide sequence of the RNA produced from the target gene.

Abstract: The invention is directed to compositions and methods for selectively reducing the expression of a gene product from a desired target gene in a cell, as well as for treating diseases caused by the expression of the gene. More particularly, the invention is directed to compositions that contain double stranded RNA (“dsRNA”), and methods for preparing them, that are capable of reducing the expression of target genes in eukaryotic cells. The dsRNA has a first oligonucleotide sequence that is between 25 and about 30 nucleotides in length and a second oligonucleotide sequence that anneals to the first sequence under biological conditions. In addition, a region of one of the sequences of the dsRNA having a sequence length of at least 19 nucleotides is sufficiently complementary to a nucleotide sequence of the RNA produced from the target gene to trigger the destruction of the target RNA by the RNAi machinery.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for selectively reducing the expression of a gene product from a desired target gene, as well as treating diseases caused by expression of the gene. The method involves introducing into the environment of a cell an amount of a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) such that a sufficient portion of the dsRNA can enter the cytoplasm of the cell to cause a reduction in the expression of the target gene. The dsRNA has a first oligonucleotide sequence that is between 26 and about 30 nucleotides in length and a second oligonucleotide sequence that anneals to the first sequence under biological conditions. In addition, a region of one of the sequences of the dsRNA having a sequence length of from about 19 to about 23 nucleotides is complementary to a nucleotide sequence of the RNA produced from the target gene.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for selectively reducing the expression of a gene product from a desired target gene, as well as treating diseases caused by expression of the gene. The method involves introducing into the environment of a cell an amount of a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) such that a sufficient portion of the dsRNA can enter the cytoplasm of the cell to cause a reduction in the expression of the target gene. The dsRNA has a first oligonucleotide sequence that is between 26 and about 30 nucleotides in length and a second oligonucleotide sequence that anneals to the first sequence under biological conditions. In addition, a region of one of the sequences of the dsRNA having a sequence length of from about 19 to about 23 nucleotides is complementary to a nucleotide sequence of the RNA produced from the target gene.

Abstract: The invention is directed to compositions and methods for selectively reducing the expression of a gene product from a desired target gene in a cell, as well as for treating diseases caused by the expression of the gene. More particularly, the invention is directed to compositions that contain double stranded RNA (“dsRNA”), and methods for preparing them, that are capable of reducing the expression of target genes in eukaryotic cells. The dsRNA has a first oligonucleotide sequence that is between 25 and about 30 nucleotides in length and a second oligonucleotide sequence that anneals to the first sequence under biological conditions. In addition, a region of one of the sequences of the dsRNA having a sequence length of at least 19 nucleotides is sufficiently complementary to a nucleotide sequence of the RNA produced from the target gene to trigger the destruction of the target RNA by the RNAi machinery.