| abstract |
The present invention provides DNAzymes which specifically cleaves mRNA transcribed from a member of the bcl-2 gene family selected from the group consisting of bcl-2, bcl-xl, bcl-w, bfl-1, brag-1, Mcl-1 and A1. The DNAzymes comprise (a) a catalytic domain that has the nucleotide sequence GGCTAGCTACAACGA (SEQ ID NO.1) and cleaves mRNA at any purine: pyrimidine cleavage site at which it is directed, (b) a binding domain contiguous with the 5' end of the catalytic domain, and (c) another binding domain contiguous with the 3' end of the catalytic domain. The binding domains are complementary to, and therefore hybridise with, the two regions immediately flanking the purine residue of the cleavage site within the bcl-2 gene family mRNA, at which DNAzyme-catalysed cleavage is desired. Each binding domain is at least six nucleotides in length, and both binding domains have a combined total length of at least 14 nucleotides. |