| abstract |
A method of cleaving a target nucleic acid molecule is disclosed. A cleavage structure is formed that comprises the target nucleic acid and a pilot nucleic acid. A first region of the target nucleic acid is annealed to the pilot nucleic acid to form a duplex structure. A second region of the target nucleic acid contiguous to the duplex is not annealed to the pilot nucleic acid, thus forming a junction site between the duplex region and the non-annealed region. The cleavage structure is exposed to a cleavage agent capable of preferentially cleaving the cleavage structure at a target site in a manner independent of the sequence of the cleavage structure. The cleavage structure and the cleavage agent are incubated under conditions wherein cleavage can occur. |