Patents by Inventor Thomas Tuschl
Thomas Tuschl has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8420391Abstract: The present invention relates to a Drosophila in vitro system which was used to demonstrate that dsRNA is processed to RNA segments 21-23 nucleotides (nt) in length. Furthermore, when these 21-23 nt fragments are purified and added back to Drosophila extracts, they mediate RNA interference in the absence of long dsRNA. Thus, these 21-23 nt fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNA degradation. A molecular signal, which may be their specific length, must be present in these 21-23 nt fragments to recruit cellular factors involved in RNAi. This present invention encompasses these 21-23 nt fragments and their use for specifically inactivating gene function. The use of these fragments (or chemically synthesized oligonucleotides of the same or similar nature) enables the targeting of specific mRNAs for degradation in mammalian cells, where the use of long dsRNAs to elicit RNAi is usually not practical, presumably because of the deleterious effects of the interferon response.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2010Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignees: University of Massachusetts, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften E.V.Inventors: Thomas Tuschl, Phillip D. Zamore, Phillip A. Sharp, David P. Bartel
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Patent number: 8394628Abstract: The present invention relates to a Drosophila in vitro system which was used to demonstrate that dsRNA is processed to RNA segments 21-23 nucleotides (nt) in length. Furthermore, when these 21-23 nt fragments are purified and added back to Drosophila extracts, they mediate RNA interference in the absence of long dsRNA. Thus, these 21-23 nt fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNA degradation. A molecular signal, which may be their specific length, must be present in these 21-23 nt fragments to recruit cellular factors involved in RNAi. This present invention encompasses these 21-23 nt fragments and their use for specifically inactivating gene function. The use of these fragments (or chemically synthesized oligonucleotides of the same or similar nature) enables the targeting of specific mRNAs for degradation in mammalian cells, where the use of long dsRNAs to elicit RNAi is usually not practical, presumably because of the deleterious effects of the interferon response.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2010Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignees: University of Massachusetts, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften E.V.Inventors: Thomas Tuschl, Phillip D. Zamore, Phillip A. Sharp, David P. Bartel
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Patent number: 8394588Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to a method for fixing a short nucleic acid in a biological sample. In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for detecting a target short nucleic acid in a biological sample. The method includes contacting the biological sample with an aldehyde-containing fixative, and subsequently contacting the sample with a water-soluble carbodiimide. In a further aspect, the invention relates to a kit for fixing a short nucleic acid in a biological sample. The kit includes a support substrate for holding the sample; an aldehyde-containing fixative; and a water-soluble carbodiimide.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2010Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: The Rockefeller UniversityInventors: Thomas Tuschl, John Pena, Cherin Sohn, Sara Hakim, Janos Ludwig, Pavol Cekan
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Patent number: 8383370Abstract: The invention provides a novel truncated mutated T4 RNA ligase 2. In addition, methods are provided for ligating pre-adenlylated donor molecules to the 3? hydroxyl group of RNA in the absence of ATP using the ligase.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2008Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: The Rockefeller UniversityInventors: Thomas Tuschl, Janos Ludwig, Yi Pei, Carolina Lin
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Patent number: 8372968Abstract: Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) induces sequence-specific post-transcriptional gene silencing in many organisms by a process known as RNA interference (RNAi). Using a Drosophila in vitro system, we demonstrate that 19-23 nt short RNA fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNAi. The short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are generated by an RNase III-like processing reaction from long dsRNA. Chemically synthesized siRNA duplexes with overhanging 3? ends mediate efficient target RNA cleavage in the lysate, and the cleavage site is located near the center of the region spanned by the guiding siRNA. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the direction of dsRNA processing determines whether sense or antisense target RNA can be cleaved by the produced siRNP complex.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2009Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignees: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften E.V., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, University of MassachusettsInventors: Thomas Tuschl, Sayda Mahgoub Elbashir, Winfried Lendeckel
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Patent number: 8362231Abstract: Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) induces sequence-specific post-transcriptional gene silencing in many organisms by a process known as RNA interference (RNAi). Using a Drosophila in vitro system, we demonstrate that 19-23 nt short RNA fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNAi. The short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are generated by an RNase III-like processing reaction from long dsRNA. Chemically synthesized siRNA duplexes with overhanging 3? ends mediate efficient target RNA cleavage in the lysate, and the cleavage site is located near the center of the region spanned by the guiding siRNA. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the direction of dsRNA processing determines whether sense or antisense target RNA can be cleaved by the produced siRNP complex.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2010Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignees: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Föderung der Wissenschaften E.V., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, University of MassachusettsInventors: Thomas Tuschl, Sayda Mahgoub Elbashir, Winfried Lendeckel
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Patent number: 8329463Abstract: Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) induces sequence-specific post-transcriptional gene silencing in many organisms by a process known as RNA interference (RNAi). Using a Drosophila in vitro system, we demonstrate that 19-23 nt short RNA fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNAi. The short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are generated by an RNase III-like processing reaction from long dsRNA. Chemically synthesized siRNA duplexes with overhanging 3? ends mediate efficient target RNA cleavage in the lysate, and the cleavage site is located near the center of the region spanned by the guiding siRNA. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the direction of dsRNA processing determines whether sense or antisense target RNA can be cleaved by the produced siRNP complex.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2010Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignees: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften E.V., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, University of MassachusettsInventors: Thomas Tuschl, Sayda Mahgoub Elbashir, Winfried Lendeckel
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Publication number: 20120255045Abstract: The invention relates to vectors for the inducible expression of RNA molecules in eukaryotic, particularly mamType: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2012Publication date: October 4, 2012Applicant: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften e.V.Inventors: Thomas Tuschl, Tilmann Achsel, Reinhard Lührmann, Jutta Meyer
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Publication number: 20120244613Abstract: The invention relates to isolated DNA or RNA molecules comprising at least ten contiguous bases having a sequence in a microRNA shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1-94; 281-374; 467-481; 497-522; or 549, except that up to thirty percent of the bases may be wobble bases, and up to 10% of the contiguous bases may be non-complementary. The invention further relates to modified single stranded microRNA molecules, isolated single stranded anti-microRNA molecules and isolated microRNP molecules. In another embodiment, the invention relates to a method for inhibiting microRNP activity in a cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2012Publication date: September 27, 2012Applicant: ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITYInventors: Thomas Tuschl, Pablo Landgraf
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Publication number: 20120246747Abstract: The present invention relates to sequence and structural features of single-stranded (ss)RNA molecules required to mediate target-specific nucleic acid modifications by RNA-interference (RNAi), such as target mRNA degradation and/or DNA methylation.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2011Publication date: September 27, 2012Applicant: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften e.V.Inventors: Thomas TUSCHL, Javier Martinez, Agnieszka Patkaniowska, Henning Urlaub, Reinhard Lührmann
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Patent number: 8247543Abstract: The invention relates to isolated DNA or RNA molecules comprising at least ten contiguous bases having a sequence in a microRNA shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1-94; 281-374; 467-481; 497-522; or 549, except that up to thirty percent of the bases may be wobble bases, and up to 10% of the contiguous bases may be non-complementary. The invention further relates to modified single stranded microRNA molecules, isolated single stranded anti-microRNA molecules and isolated microRNP molecules. In another embodiment, the invention relates to a method for inhibiting microRNP activity in a cell.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2006Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: The Rockefeller UniversityInventors: Thomas Tuschl, Pablo Landgraf
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Patent number: 8222394Abstract: In Caenorhabditis elegans, lin-4 and let-7 enclode 22- and 21-nucleotide RNAs, respectively, that function as key regulators of developmental timing. Because the appearance of these short RNAs is regulated during development, they are also referred to as “small temporal RNAs” (stRNAs). We show that many more 21- and 22-nt expressed RNAs, termed microRNAs, (miRNAs), exist in invertebrates and vertebrates, and that some of these novel RNAs, similar to let-7 stRAN, are also highly conserved. This suggests that sequence-specific post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms mediated by small RNAs are more general than previously appreciated.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2009Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften e.V.Inventors: Thomas Tuschl, Mariana Lagos-Quintana, Winfried Lendeckel, Jutta Meyer, Reinhard Rauhut
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Patent number: 8207326Abstract: In Caenorhabditis elegans, lin-4 and let-7 enclode 22- and 21-nucleotide RNAs, respectively, that function as key regulators of developmental timing. Because the appearance of these short RNAs is regulated during development, they are also referred to as “small temporal RNAs” (stRNAs). We show that many more 21- and 22-nt expressed RNAs, termed microRNAs, (miRNAs), exist in invertebrates and vertebrates, and that some of these novel RNAs, similar to let-7 stRAN, are also highly conserved. This suggests that sequence-specific post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms mediated by small RNAs are more general than previously appreciated.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2010Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften e. V.Inventors: Thomas Tuschl, Mariana Lagos-Quintana, Winfried Lendeckel, Jutta Meyer, Reinhard Rauhut
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Patent number: 8198077Abstract: The invention relates to vectors for the inducible expression of RNA molecules in eukaryotic, particularly mammalian cells and transgenic animals.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2004Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften e.V.Inventors: Thomas Tuschl, Tilmann Achsel, Reinhard Lührmann, Jutta Meyer
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Patent number: 8198428Abstract: In Caenorhabditis elegans, lin-4 and let-7 enclode 22- and 21 -nucleotide RNAs, respectively, that function as key regulators of developmental timing. Because the appearance of these short RNAs is regulated during development, they are also referred to as “small temporal RNAs” (stRNAs). We show that many more 21- and 22-nt expressed RNAs, termed microRNAs, (miRNAs), exist in invertebrates and vertebrates, and that some of these novel RNAs, similar to let-7 stRAN, are also highly conserved. This suggests that sequence-specific post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms mediated by small RNAs are more general than previously appreciated.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2010Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften e.V.Inventors: Thomas Tuschl, Mariana Lagos-Quintana, Winfried Lendeckel, Jutta Meyer, Reinhard Rauhut
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Publication number: 20120122111Abstract: The present invention relates to a Drosophila in vitro system which was used to demonstrate that dsRNA is processed to RNA segments 21-23 nucleotides (nt) in length. Furthermore, when these 21-23 nt fragments are purified and added back to Drosophila extracts, they mediate RNA interference in the absence of long dsRNA. Thus, these 21-23 nt fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNA degradation. A molecular signal, which may be their specific length, must be present in these 21-23 nt fragments to recruit cellular factors involved in RNAi. This present invention encompasses these 21-23 nt fragments and their use for specifically inactivating gene function. The use of these fragments (or chemically synthesized oligonucleotides of the same or similar nature) enables the targeting of specific mRNAs for degradation in mammalian cells, where the use of long dsRNAs to elicit RNAi is usually not practical, presumably because of the deleterious effects of the interferon response.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2011Publication date: May 17, 2012Inventors: Thomas Tuschl, Phillip D. Zamore, Phillip A. Sharp, David P. Bartel
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Publication number: 20120115220Abstract: The invention relates to isolated anti-microRNA molecules. In another embodiment, the invention relates to an isolated microRNA molecule. In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a method for inhibiting microRNP activity in a cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2012Publication date: May 10, 2012Applicant: ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITYInventors: Thomas Tuschl, Markus Landthaler, Gunter Meister, Sebastien Pfeffer
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Publication number: 20120070892Abstract: The invention relates to isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising the sequence of a human cytomegalovirus microRNA. In another embodiment, the invention relates to single stranded DNA virus microRNA molecules comprising the sequence of a human cytomegalovirus microRNA. The invention also relates to the anti-DNA virus microRNA molecules.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2011Publication date: March 22, 2012Applicant: THE ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITYInventors: Sebastien Pfeffer, Thomas Tuschl
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Publication number: 20120029061Abstract: The present invention relates to a Drosophila in vitro system which was used to demonstrate that dsRNA is processed to RNA segments 21-23 nucleotides (nt) in length. Furthermore, when these 21-23 nt fragments are purified and added back to Drosophila extracts, they mediate RNA interference in the absence of long dsRNA. Thus, these 21-23 nt fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNA degradation. A molecular signal, which may be their specific length, must be present in these 21-23 nt fragments to recruit cellular factors involved in RNAi. This present invention encompasses these 21-23 nt fragments and their use for specifically inactivating gene function. The use of these fragments (or chemically synthesized oligonucleotides of the same or similar nature) enables the targeting of specific mRNAs for degradation in mammalian cells, where the use of long dsRNAs to elicit RNAi is usually not practical, presumably because of the deleterious effects of the interferon response.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2010Publication date: February 2, 2012Inventors: Thomas Tuschl, Phillip D. Zamore, Phillip A. Sharp, David P. Bartel
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Patent number: 8101348Abstract: The present invention relates to sequence and structural features of single-stranded (ss) RNA molecules required to mediate target-specific nucleic acid modifications by RNA-interference (RNAi), such as target mRNA degradation and/or DNA methylation.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2003Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften e.V.Inventors: Thomas Tuschl, Javier Martinez, Agnieszka Patkaniowska, Henning Urlaub, Reinhard Luehrmann