IMPROVEMENTS IN ANTISENSE OLIGOMERS, DELIVERY OF ANTISENSE OLIGOMERS, AND IDENTIFICATION OF ANTISENSE OLIGOMER TARGETS

摘要

Antisense oligomers which possess improved properties over those taught in the prior art are disclosed. Preferably, oligomers for delivery to a cell comprising at least one nucleomonomer having a silicon-based 2'OH protecting group, e.g., a tertbutyl dimethyl-silyl group. Oligomers of between about 7 and about 12 nucleomonomers in length which are complementary to a site on an RNA target molecule selected from the group consisting of: the extreme 5' terminus of the RNA molecule, a 5' splice junction of the RNA molecule, and a 3' splice junction of the RNA molecule are provided. Oligomers comprising a neutral backbone which have been modified to comprise at least one charged group are also disclosed. In addition, methods of identifying an oligomer complementary to a cellular gene involved in a physiological process are provided.