Abstract: The present invention relates to an analytical in vitro process for predicting the therapeutic effectiveness of at least one pharmaceutical compound in the treatment of leukemia and/or lymphoma, the process analysing the transmembrane potential of mitochondria in cells isolated from a patient by quantification of fluorescence emitted from a dye indicating induction of apoptosis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an analytical in vitro process for predicting the therapeutic effectiveness of at least one pharmaceutical compound in the treatment of leukemia and/or lymphoma, the process analysing the transmembrane potential of mitochondria in cells isolated from a patient by quantification of fluorescence emitted from a dye indicating induction of apoptosis.

Abstract: A method for identifying sites on a target RNA which are accessible to pairing by antisense DNA, ribozymes or DNAzymes. Native or in vitro-synthesized target RNA is incubated with defined ODNs and RNase H, or with a random or semi-random ODN library and RNase H, or with defined ribozymes or DNAzymes, or with a semi-random ribozyme or DNAzyme library, in a cell extract containing endogenous RNA-binding proteins, or in a medium which mimics a cell extract due to presence of one or more RNA-binding proteins. Any antisense ODN, ribozyme or DNAzyme which is complementary to an accessisble site in the target RNA hybridizes to that site and the RNA is cleaved at that site. Reverse transcription can be used to generate a first strand DNA from the RNA cleavage product, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-dependent polymerase chain reaction (TDPCR) can be used to identify sites on target RNA to which antisense ODNs, ribozymes or DNAzymes have bound and cleavage has occurred.

Abstract: A method for identifying sites on a target RNA which are accessible to pairing by antisense DNA, ribozymes or DNAzymes. Native or in vitro-synthesized target RNA is incubated with defined ODNs and RNase H, or with a random or semi-random ODN library and RNase H, or with defined ribozymes or DNAzymes, or with a semi-random ribozyme or DNAzyme library, in a cell extract containing endogenous RNA-binding proteins, or in a medium which mimics a cell extract due to presence of one or more RNA-binding proteins. Any antisense ODN, ribozyme or DNAzyme which is complementary to an accessisble site in the target RNA hybridizes to that site and the RNA is cleaved at that site. Reverse transcription can be used to generate a first strand DNA from the RNA cleavage product, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-dependent polymerase chain reaction (TDPCR) can be used to identify sites on target RNA to which antisense ODNs, ribozymes or DNAzymes have bound and cleavage has occurred.

Abstract: A method for identifying sites on a target RNA which are accessible to pairing by antisense DNA, ribozymes or DNAzymes. Native or in vitro-synthesized target RNA is incubated with defined ODNs and RNase H, or with a random or semi-random ODN library and RNase H, or with defined ribozymes or DNAzymes, or with a semi-random ribozyme or DNAzyme library, in a cell extract containing endogenous RNA-binding proteins, or in a medium which mimics a cell extract due to presence of one or more RNA-binding proteins. Any antisense ODN, ribozyme or DNAzyme which is complementary to an accessisble site in the target RNA hybridizes to that site and the RNA is cleaved at that site. Reverse transcription can be used to generate a first strand DNA from the RNA cleavage product, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-dependent polymerase chain reaction (TDPCR) can be used to identify sites on target RNA to which antisense ODNs, ribozymes or DNAzymes have bound and cleavage has occurred.

Abstract: Enzymatic RNA molecules have been designed that cleave mutant N-ras mRNA, preferably at a NUX cleavage site (N=any base, X=A, C or U). Preferred ribozymes have nucleotide sequences 5'-CCAACACCUGAUGAGCGUUAGCGAAACCUGCU-3' or 5'-UCCCAACCUGAUGAGCGUUAGCGAAACACCUG-3' (SEQ ID NOS:1 and 2), and derivatives thereof. The present invention also provides pharmaceuticals containing such molecules and the use of such molecules for the preparation of pharmaceuticals for the treatment of diseases involving abnormal cell growth and/or differentiation.