| abstract |
Disclosed are compositions having an RNA-cleavage activity, as well as their use for cleaving RNA-substrates in vitro and in vivo. The compositions contain an active center, the subnits of which are selected from nucleotides and/or nucleotide analogues, as well as flanking regions contributing to the formation of a specific hybridization with an RNA substrate. Preferred compositions form, in combination with an RNA substrate, a structure resembling a hammerhead structure. The active center of the disclosed compositions is characterized by the presence of I15.1 which allows cleavage of RNA substrates having C16.1. |