SiRNA SEQUENCE-INDEPENDENT MODIFICATION FORMATS FOR REDUCING OFF-TARGET PHENOTYPIC EFFECTS IN RNAi, AND STABILIZED FORMS THEREOF

摘要

Modification formats having modified nucleotides are provided for chemically synthesised RNA, in particular duplex RNA. RNA having modification formats and modified nucleotides provided herein reduce off-target effects in RNA interference of endogenous genes. Further modification formatted RNAs are demonstrated to be stabilized to nuclease-rich environments. Unexpectedly, increasing or maintaining strand bias, while necessary to maintain potency for endogenous RNA interference, is not sufficient for reducing off-target effects in cell biology assays.