Genecare Research Institute Co., Ltd.

Kazunobu Futami

Yasuhiro Furuichi

Akira Shimamoto

Motoki Takagi

Satoshi Kaneto

Double-stranded modified siRNA targeting a RecQL1 helicase gene includes a sense strand including the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, and an antisense strand including the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein the sense strand includes 2'-substituted nucleotides at positions 2, 3, 4 and 13 in the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, the sense strand further includes a 2&#x2032;-substituted nucleotide(s) at one or more positions selected from the group consisting of positions 12, 14, 17, 18 and 19 in the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the position 2&#x2032; of the 2&#x2032;-substituted nucleotides is &#x2014;R, &#x2014;OR, &#x2014;ROR, &#x2014;ORORor &#x2014;ROROR, wherein Rrepresents a Calkyl group, and Rand Rindependently represent a Calkylene group.

Modified siRNA and pharmaceutical composition

The present inventors discovered that inhibition of the expression of various genes associated with chromosome stabilization induces cancer cell-specific apoptosis and inhibits cell proliferation. Compounds that inhibit expression of a gene associated with chromosome stabilization or inhibit the function of a protein encoded by such a gene are thought to have cancer cell-specific apoptosis-inducing effects.

Growing community of inventors

Fujisawa, Japan

Kazunobu Futami