Identifying agents that inhibit the function of specific RNA, useful e.g. for treating human or feline immune deficiency virus, comprises using a target-reporter construct prepared from a reporter ribozyme domain

摘要

Identifying compounds (A1) that bind specifically to a particular RNA target motif (II) so as to inhibit or eliminate its function. Identifying compounds (A1) that bind specifically to a particular RNA target motif (II) so as to inhibit or eliminate its function comprises that a target-reporter construct (TRK) is prepared from a reporter ribozyme domain (I) and (II), connected through an RNA linker, so that, after binding of (A1) to (II), the catalytic activity of (I) is altered. TRK is contacted with: (i) a signal-generating ribozyme substrate (RS), able to bind specifically to (I); and (ii) a test compound, and any binding to (II) is detected. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a similar method for identifying compounds (A2) that can displace a compound associated with (II), so as to inhibit or eliminate its function; (2) a kit for the new process comprising TRK and RS; (3) a polynucleotide (PN) comprising a hammerhead ribozyme (hhR) and an adaptor (Ap) for a target molecule, in which the binding site of the catalytic domain of hhR for a substrate is blocked in the absence of target molecule; (4) a biosensor comprising PN; (5) identifying compounds (A3) that bind a target molecule, using PN; (6) a kit for method (5); and (7) use of coumermycin, nosiheptide and patulin for treatment of human/feline immune deficiency virus (H/FIV).