Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for cleaving a target RNA molecule comprising: mixing with the target RNA molecule a separate delta RNA fragment consisting of at least 18 consecutive nucleotides from the conserved region of the hepatitis delta virus, wherein the conserved region of the hepatitis delta RNA is selected from the group consisting of regions of hepatitis delta virus having ribozyme activity between residues 611 and 771 on the genomic strand and between residues 845 and 980 on the complementary anti-genomic strand, wherein the RNA fragment having ribozyme activity cleaves the target RNA molecule to form a 2',3' cyclic phosphate and 5' hydroxyl.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for cleaving a target RNA molecule comprising: mixing with the target RNA molecule a separate delta RNA fragment consisting of at least 18 consecutive nucleotides from the conserved region of the hepatitis delta virus, wherein the conserved region of the hepatitis delta RNA is selected from the group consisting of regions of hepatitis delta virus having ribozyme activity between residues 611 and 771 on the genomic strand and between residues 845 and 980 on the complementary anti-genomic strand, wherein the RNA fragment having ribozyme activity cleaves the target RNA molecule to form a 2',3' cyclic phosphate and 5' hydroxyl.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising labelling the delta RNA fragment having ribozyme activity prior to mixing the fragment with the target RNA molecule.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 2 further comprising screening isotropic cells with the labelled delta RNA fragment and detecting RNA molecules which form secondary and tertiary structure with the delta RNA fragment and are cleaved by the delta RNA fragment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the target RNA molecule is the genome of a RNA virus or an mRNA encoded by an RNA virus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the RNA virus is selected from the group consisting of HIV-1 and HTLV-1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising inserting the delta RNA fragment into a retroviral vector prior to mixing the fragment with the target RNA molecule.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the RNA fragment with ribozyme activity forms regions of secondary structure with the target RNA molecule between 10 and 20 base pairs in length.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the RNA fragment is selected from the group consisting of regions of hepatitis delta virus between residues 611 and 771 on the genomic strand and regions of hepatitis delta virus between residues 816 and 980 on the complementary anti-genomic strand.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the RNA molecule with ribozyme activity forms local tertiary structure with the target RNA molecule that is structurally equivalent to the tertiary structure formed between residues 703 to 735 of hepatitis delta virus genomic strand.