A method of producing an aptamer selectively binding a non-canonical structure of a target nucleic acid molecule includes the steps of: incubating a plurality of nucleic acid sequences with an enantiomer of the non-canonical structure under suitable conditions to obtain one or more candidate nucleic acid sequences binding to the enantiomer of the non-canonical structure, purifying and amplifying the one or more candidate nucleic acid sequences; repeating said incubating, purifying and amplifying steps for a predetermined number of cycles under different conditions; and producing an enantiomer for selected amplified candidate nucleic acid sequence to obtain the aptamer capable of selectively binding the non-canonical structure of the target nucleic acid molecule. An aptamer selectively binding to a non-canonical structure of a nucleic acid molecule or its enantiomer, the aptamer comprising a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11; as well as uses of the aptamer or its enantiomer.

The present invention is directed to a method of treating cancer using interfering RNA duplexes to mediate gene silencing. The present invention is also directed to interfering RNA duplexes and vectors encoding such interfering RNA duplexes.

The present invention aims to provide a new nucleic acid molecule for suppressing expression of the target gene, which (1) has a gene expression suppressing activity equivalent to or higher than that of siRNA, (2) shows no off-target effect of the sense strand, and (3) makes it possible to design a wider range of antisense strand sequences (extends the range of targetable sequences). Since the nucleic acid molecule of the following formula:

##STR00001##

wherein each symbol is as defined in the DESCRIPTION, has the superior properties of the above-mentioned (1) to (3), it is extremely useful as a novel gene expression inhibitor that replaces conventional siRNA.

The present invention aims to provide a new nucleic acid molecule for suppressing expression of the target gene, which (1) has a gene expression suppressing activity equivalent to or higher than that of siRNA, (2) shows no off-target effect of the sense strand, and (3) makes it possible to design a wider range of antisense strand sequences (extends the range of targetable sequences). Since the nucleic acid molecule of the following formula:

##STR00001##

wherein each symbol is as defined in the DESCRIPTION, has the superior properties of the above-mentioned (1) to (3), it is extremely useful as a novel gene expression inhibitor that replaces conventional siRNA.

The present invention relates to a double-helix oligonucleotide construct comprising a double-stranded miRNA and a composition for preventing or treating cancer comprising the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a double-helix oligonucleotide construct comprising miR-544a characterized by a method that effectively inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells or induces a voluntary death of cancer cells, and an anticancer composition comprising the construct.

The present application provides methods of prevention and/or treatment of breast cancer in a subject by inhibiting expression of PAX2. In the cancer treatment methods disclosed, the method of inhibiting expression of PAX2 can be by administration of a nucleic acid encoding an siRNA for PAX2. A method of treating cancer in a subject by administering DEFB1 is also provided. Similarly, provided is a method of treating cancer in a subject by increasing expression of DEFB1 in the subject.

The present application provides methods of prevention and/or treatment of breast cancer in a subject by inhibiting expression of PAX2. In the cancer treatment methods disclosed, the method of inhibiting expression of PAX2 can be by administration of a nucleic acid encoding an siRNA for PAX2. A method of treating cancer in a subject by administering DEFB1 is also provided. Similarly, provided is a method of treating cancer in a subject by increasing expression of DEFB1 in the subject.

A method of producing an aptamer selectively binding a non-canonical structure of a target nucleic acid molecule includes the steps of: incubating a plurality of nucleic acid sequences with an enantiomer of the non-canonical structure under suitable conditions to obtain one or more candidate nucleic acid sequences binding to the enantiomer of the non-canonical structure, purifying and amplifying the one or more candidate nucleic acid sequences; repeating said incubating, purifying and amplifying steps for a predetermined number of cycles under different conditions; and producing an enantiomer for selected amplified candidate nucleic acid sequence to obtain the aptamer capable of selectively binding the non-canonical structure of the target nucleic acid molecule. An aptamer selectively binding to a non-canonical structure of a nucleic acid molecule or its enantiomer, the aptamer comprising a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11; as well as uses of the aptamer or its enantiomer.

The invention discloses the use of single-stranded RNA toeholds of different lengths to promote the re-association of various RNA-DNA hybrids, which results in activation of multiple split functionalities inside human cells. Previously designed RNA/DNA nanoparticles employed single-stranded DNA toeholds to initiate re-association. The use of RNA toeholds is advantageous because of the simpler design rules, the shorter toeholds, and the smaller size of the resulting nanoparticles compared to the same hybrid nanoparticles with single-stranded DNA toeholds. Moreover, the co-transcriptional assemblies result in higher yields for hybrid nanoparticles with ssRNA toeholds.

The present disclosure relates to RNAi constructs with improved cellular uptake characteristics and methods of use of these compounds for silencing expression of long coding RNAs (IncRNAs).