WO2004076623A2 - Rna-interference for znfn3a1-gene as a method for inhibiting cancer cell growth - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention features a method for inhibiting growth of a cancer cell by contacting the cell with a composition of a ZNFN3A1 siRNA. Methods of treating cancer are also within the invention. The invention also features products, including nucleic acid sequences and vectors as well as to compositions comprising them, useful in the provided methods. The invention also provides a method for inhibiting of tumer cell, for example liver or colon cancer cell, particularly HCC or colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Description

DESCRIPTION

COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS OF INHIBITING CELL GROWTH

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of biological science, more specifically to the field of cancer research. In particular, the present invention relates a composition comprising a ZNFN3A1 small interfering RNA (siRNA).

Background Art

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the five most frequent cancers and is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the world. Although recent medical advances have made great progress in diagnosing the disease, a large number of patients with HCCs are still diagnosed at advanced stages. Most of the patients are not cured by surgical resection because of severe liver dysfunction, widespread and/or multiple tumors, or high incidence of recurrence. Therefore development of highly effective chemotherapeutic drugs and preventive strategies are matters of pressing concern.

Disclosure of the Invention The present invention based on the surprising discovery that small interfering

RNAs (siRNAs) selective for ZNFN3A1 are effective for inhibiting the cellular growth of various cancer cells, including those involved in HCC.

The invention provides methods for inhibiting cell growth. Among the methods provided are those comprising contacting a cell with a composition comprising a ZNFN3A1 small interfering RNA (siRNA). The invention also provides methods for inhibiting tumor cell growth in a subject. Such methods include administering to a subject a composition comprising a ZNFN3A1 small interfering RNA (siRNA). Another aspect of the invention provides methods for inhibiting the expression of the ZNFN3A1 gene in a cell of a biological sample. Expression of the gene may be inhibited by introduction of a double stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecule into the cell in an amount sufficient to inhibit expression of the ZNFN3 Al gene. Another aspect of the invention relates to products including nucleic acid sequences and vectors as well as to compositions comprising them, useful, for example, in the provided methods. Among the products provided are siRNA molecules having the property to inhibit expression of the ZNFN3A1 gene when introduced into a cell expressing said gene. Among such molecules are those that comprise a sense strand and an antisense strand, wherein the sense strand comprises a ribonucleotide sequence corresponding to a ZNFN3 Al target sequence, and wherein the antisense strand comprises a ribonucleotide sequence which is complementary to said sense strand. The sense and the antisense strands of the molecule hybridize to each other to form a double- stranded molecule.

As used herein, the term "organism" refers to any living entity comprised of at least one cell. A living organism can be as simple as, for example, a single eukaryotic cell or as complex as a mammal, including a human being.

As used herein, the term "biological sample" refers to a whole organism or a subset of its tissues, cells or component parts (e.g. body fluids, including but not limited to blood, mucus, lymphatic fluid, synovial fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, saliva, amniotic fluid, amniotic cord blood, urine, vaginal fluid and semen). "Biological sample" further refers to a homogenate, lysate, extract, cell culture or tissue culture prepared from a whole organism or a subset of its cells, tissues or component parts, or a fraction or portion thereof. Lastly, "biological sample" refers to a medium, such as a nutrient broth or gel in which an organism has been propagated, which contains cellular components, such as proteins or polynucleotides.

The invention features methods of inhibiting cell growth. Cell growth is inhibited by contacting a cell with a composition of a ZNFN3A1 small interfering RNA (siRNA). ZNFN3A1 is a zinc finger protein that is overexpressed in tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma or colorectal adenocarcinoma. Growth of the cell expressing ZNFN3 Al can be inhibited by the present invention. The cell is further contacted with a transfection- enhancing agent. The cell is provided in vitro, in vivo or ex vivo. The subject is a mammal, e.g., a human, non-human primate, mouse, rat, dog, cat, horse, or cow. The cell is a hepatic cell or a colon cell. Alternatively, the cell is a tumor cell ( i.e., cancer cell) such as a colorectal cancer cell or a liver cancer cell. For example, the cell is a colorectal adenocarcinoma cell or a hepatocellular carcinoma cell. By inhibiting cell growth is meant that the treated cell proliferates at a lower rate or has decreased viability than an untreated cell. Cell growth is measured by proliferation assays known in the art. By the term "siRNA" is meant a double stranded RNA molecule which prevents translation of a target RNA. Standard techniques of introducing siRNA into the cell are used, including those in which DNA is a template from which RNA is transcribed. The siRNA includes a sense ZNFN3A1 nucleic acid sequence, an anti-sense ZNFN3 Al nucleic acid sequence or both. The siRNA is constructed such that a single transcript has both the sense and complementary antisense sequences from the target gene, e.g., a hairpin.

The method is used to alter gene expression in a cell in which expression of ZNFN3 Al is upregulated, e.g., as a result of malignant transformation of the cells. Binding of the siRNA to an ZNFN3A1 transcript in the target cell results in a reduction in ZNFN3A1 production by the cell. The length of the oligonucleotide is at least 10 nucleotides and may be as long as the naturally-occurring ZNFN3A1 transcript. Preferably, the oligonucleotide is 19-25 nucleotides in length. Most preferably, the oligonucleotide is less than 75, 50 , or 25 nucleotides in length. Examples of ZNFN3A1 siRNA oligonucleotides which inhibit ZNFN3A1 expression in mammalian cells include oligonucleotides containing target sequences, for example, nucleotides 451-471 , 532-552, 623-643, 625-645, 636-656,726-746, 923-943, 1065-1085, and 1258-1278 of SEQ ID NO:l.

Methods for designing double stranded RNA having the ability to inhibit gene expression in a target cell are known. (See for example, US Patent No. 6,506,559, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety). For example, a computer program for designing siRNAs is available from the Ambion website (http://www.ambion.com/techlib/misc/siRNA_finder.html).

The computer program selects nucleotide sequences for siRNA synthesis based on the following protocol. Selection of siRNA Target Sites

1. Beginning with the AUG start codon of the transcript, scan downstream for AA dinucleotide sequences. Record the occurrence of each AA and the 3' adjacent 19 nucleotides as potential siRNA target sites. Tuschl et al. recommend against designing siRNA to the 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) and regions near the start codon (within 75bases) as these may be richer in regulatory protein binding sites. UTR-binding proteins and/or translation initiation complexes may interfere with binding of the siRNA endonuclease complex. 2. Compare the potential target sites to the appropriate genome database (human, mouse, rat, etc.) and eliminate from consideration any target sequences with significant ho ology to other coding sequences. We suggest using BLAST, which can be found on the NCBI server at: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST/ 3. Select qualifying target sequences for synthesis. Selecting several target sequences along the length of the gene to evaluate is typical.

Also included in the invention are isolated polynucleotides that include the nucleic acid sequence of target sequences, for example, nucleotides 451-471 (SEQ ID NO:58), 532-552 (SEQ ID NO:60), 623-643 (SEQ ID NO:61), 625-645 (SEQ ID NO:62), 636-656 (SEQ ID NO:63), 726-746 (SEQ ID NO:64), 923-943 (SEQ ID NO:66), 1065-1085 (SEQ ID NO:68), and 1258-1278 (SEQ ID NO:69) of SEQ ID NO:l or a polynucleotide that is complementary to the nucleic acid sequence of nucleotides 451-471, 532-552, 623-643, 625-645, 636-656,726-746, 923-943, 1065-1085, and 1258-1278 of SEQ ID NO:l. As used herein, an "isolated nucleic acid" is a nucleic acid removed from its original environment (e.g., the natural environment if naturally occurring) and thus, synthetically altered from its natural state. In the present invention, isolated nucleic acid includes DNA, RNA, and derivatives thereof. When the isolated nucleic acid is RNA or derivatives thereof, base "t" shoulde be replaced with "u" in the nucleotide sequences. As used herein, the term "complementary" refers to Watson-Crick or Hoogsteen base pairing between nucleotides units of a polynucleotide, and the term "binding" means the physical or chemical interaction between two polypeptides or compounds or associated polypeptides or compounds or combinations thereof. Complementary nucleic acid sequences hybridize under appropriate conditions to form stable duplexes containing few or no mismatches. Furthermore, the sense strand and antisense strand of the isolated nucleotide of the present invention, can form double stranded nucleotide or hairpin loop structure by the hybridization. In a preferred embodiment, such duplexes contain no more than 1 mismatch for every 10 matches. In an especially preferred embodiment, where the strands of the duplex are fully complementary, such duplexes contain no mismatches. The polynucleotide is less than 1622 nucleotides in length. For example, the polynucleotide is less than 500, 200, or 75 nucleotides in length. Also included in the invention is a vector containing one or more of the nucleic acids described herein, and a cell containing the vectors. The isolated nucleic acids of the present invention are useful for siRNA against ZNFN3 Al or DNA encoding the siRNA. When the nucleic acids are used for siRNA or coding DNA thereof, the sense strand is preferably longer than 19 nucleotides, and more preferably longer than 21 nucleotides. The invention is based in part on the discovery that the gene encoding a zinc finger protein, ZNFN3A1 is overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared to non- cancerous liver tissue. The ZNFN3A1 cDNA is 1622 nucleotides in length. The 1284 ORF encodes a 428-amino acid protein with a zinc finger motif. The nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences of ZNFN3A1 are shown in Tables 1 and 2. In Table 1, the 5' and 3' untranslated region is shown in italic, the start and stop codons are in bold. The subcellular localization of ZNFN3 Al protein is altered during cell cycle progression and by the density of cultured cells. ZNFN3 Al protein accumulates in the nucleus when cells are in middle to late S phase or cultured in sparse conditions. Whereas, ZNFN3A1 protein localizes in the cytoplasm as well as in the nucleus when cells are in other phases of the cell cycle or grown in a dense condition. ZNFN3A1 forms a ternary complex with KIAA0054 protein and RNA polymerase II in vivo, which activates transcription of downstream genes including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) through a direct binding of the complex with an element of "5'-CCCTCC-3"' in the 5' flanking region.

Table 1 Nucleic Acid Sequence of ZNFN3A1 (SEQ ID No:l) gtgcgcgcag ggcgcaggcg cgcgggtccc ggcagcccgt gagacgcccg ctgctggacg 60 cgggtagccg ictgaggtgc cggagctgcg ggagg atg gag ccg ctg aag gtg 113 gaa aag ttc gca ace gcc aac agg gga aac ggg ctg cgc gcc gtg ace 161 ccg ctg cgc ecc gga gag eta etc ttc cgc teg gat ccc ttg gcg tae 209 acg gtg tgc aag ggg agt cgt ggc gtc gtc tgc gac cgc tgc ctt etc 257 ggg aag gaa aag ctg atg cga tgc tct cag tgc cgc gtc gcc aaa tae 305 tgt agt get aag tgt cag aaa aaa get tgg cca gac cac aag egg gaa 353 tgc aaa tgc ctt aaa age tgc aaa ccc aga tat cct cea gac tec gtt 401 cga ctt ctt ggc aga gtt gtc ttc aaa ctt atg gat gga gca cct tea 449 gaa tea gag aag ctt tac tea ttt tat gat ctg gag tea aat att aac 497 aaa ctg act gaa gat aag aaa gag ggc etc agg caa etc gta atg aca 545 ttt caa cat ttc atg aga gaa gaa ata cag gat gcc tct cag ctg oca 593 cct gcc ttt gac ctt ttt gaa gcc ttt gca aaa gtg ate tgc aac tct 641 ttc ace ate tgt aat gcg gag atg cag gaa gtt ggt gtt ggc eta tat 689 ccc agt ate tct ttg etc aat cac age tgt gac ccc aac tgt teg att 737 gtg ttc aat ggg ccc cac etc tta ctg cga gca gtc cga gac ate gag 785 gtg gga gag gag etc ace ate tgc tac ctg gat atg ctg atg ace agt 833 gag gag cgc egg aag cag ctg agg gac cag tac tgc ttt gaa tgt gac 881 tgt ttc cgt tge caa ace cag gac aag gat get gat atg eta act ggt 929 gat gag caa gta tgg aag gaa gtt caa gaa tec ctg aaa aaa att gaa 977 gaa ctg aag gca cac tgg aag tgg gag cag gtt ctg gcc atg tge cag 1025 gcg ate ata age age aat tct gaa egg ctt ccc gat ate aac ate tac 1073 cag ctg aag gtg etc gac tgc gcc atg gat gcc tgc ate aac etc ggc 1121 ctg ttg gag gaa gcc ttg ttc tat ggt act egg ace atg gag cca tac 1169 agg att ttt ttc cca gga age cat ccc gtc aga ggg gtt caa gtg atg 1217 aaa gtt ggc aaa ctg cag eta cat caa ggc atg ttt ccc caa gca atg 1265 aag aat ctg aga ctg get ttt gat att atg aga gtg aca cat ggc aga 1313 gaa cac age ctg att gaa gat ttg att eta ctt tta gaa gaa tgc gae 1361 gcc aac ate aga gca tec taε gggaacgcag tcagagggaa atacggcgtg 1412 tgtctttgtt gaatgcctta ttgaggtcac acactctatg ctttgttagc tgtgtgaacc 1472 tctcttattg gaaattctgt tccgtgtttg tgtaggtaaa taaaggcaga catggtttgc 1532 aaaccacaag aatcattagt tgtagagaag cacgattata ataaattcaa aacatttggt 1592 tgaggatgcc aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 1622

Table 2 Polypepiide Seqnene B of SNFN3A1 (SEQ ID NO:2)

Met Glu Pro Leu Lys Val Glu Lys Phe Ala Thr Ala Asn Arg Gly Asn 1 5 10 15

Gly Leu Arg Ala Val Thr Pro Leu Arg Pro Gly Glu Leu Leu Phe Arg 20 25 30

Ser Asp Pro Leu Ala Tyr Thr Val Cys Lys Gly Ser Arg Gly Val Val 35 40 45

Cys Asp Arg Cys Leu Leu Gly Lys Glu Lys Leu Met Arg Cys Ser Gin 50 55 60

Cys Arg Val Ala Lys Tyr Cys Ser Ala Lys Cys Gin Lys Lys Ala Trp 65 70 75 80

Pro Asp His Lys Arg Glu Cys Lys Cys Leu Lys Ser Cys Lys Pro Arg 85 90 95

Tyr Pro Pro Asp Ser Val Arg Leu Leu Gly Arg Val Val Phe Lys Leu 100 105 110

Met Asp Gly Ala Pro Ser Glu Ser Glu Lys Leu Tyr Ser Phe Tyr Asp 115 120 125

Leu Glu Ser Asn He Asn Lys Leu Thr Glu Asp Lys Lys Glu Gly Leu 130 135 140

Arg Gin Leu Val Met Thr Phe Gin His Phe Met Arg Glu Glu He Gin 145 150 155 160

Asp Ala Ser Gin Leu Pro Pro Ala Phe Asp Leu Phe Glu Ala Phe Ala 165 170 175

Lys Val He Cys Asn Ser Phe Thr He Cys Asn Ala Glu Met Gin Glu

180 185 190

Val Gly Val Gly Leu Tyr Pro Ser He Ser Leu Leu Asn His Ser Cys 195 200 205

Asp Pro Asn Cys Ser He Val Phe Asn Gly Pro His Leu Leu Leu Arg 210 215 220

Ala Val Arg Asp He Glu Val Gly Glu Glu Leu Thr He Cys Tyr Leu 225 230 235 240 Asp Met Leu Met Thr Ser Glu Glu Arg Arg Lys Gin Leu Arg Asp Gin 245 250 255

Tyr Cys Phe Glu Cys Asp Cys Phe Arg Cys Gin Thr Gin Asp Lys Asp

260 265 270

Ala Asp Met Leu Thr Gly Asp Glu Gin Val Trp Lys Glu Val Gin Glu 275 280 285

Ser Leu Lys Lys He Glu Glu Leu Lys Ala His Trp Lys Trp Glu Gin 290 295 300

Val Leu Ala Met Cys Gin Ala He He Ser Ser Asn Ser Glu Arg Leu 305 310 315 320

Pro Asp He Asn He Tyr Gin Leu Lys Val Leu Asp Cys Ala Met Asp 325 330 335

Ala Cys He Asn Leu Gly Leu Leu Glu Glu Ala Leu Phe Tyr Gly Thr 340 345 350

Arg Thr Met Glu Pro Tyr Arg He Phe Phe Pro Gly Ser His Pro Val 355 360 365

Arg Gly Val Gin Val Met Lys Val Gly Lys Leu Gin Leu His Gin Gly 370 375 380

Met Phe Pro Gin Ala Met Lys Asn Leu Arg Leu Ala Phe Asp He Met 385 390 395 400

Arg Val Thr His Gly Arg Glu His Ser Leu He Glu Asp Leu He Leu 405 410 415

Leu Leu Glu Glu Cys Asp Ala Asn He Arg Ala Ser 420 425

Exogenous expression of ZNFN3A1 in NIH3T3 cells resulted in increased cell growth. In contrast, suppression of its expression with antisense S-oligonucleotides resulted in a growth-inhibition of hepatoma cells. Methods of inhibiting cell growth

The present invention relates to inhibiting cell growth, i.e, cancer cell growth by inhibiting ZNFN3A1 expression. ZNFN3A1 expression is inhibited by small interfering

RNA (siRNA) that specifically target of the ZNFN3 Al gene. A ZNFN3A1 target includes, for example, nucleotides 451-471, 532-552, 623-643, 625-645, 636-656, 726-746, 923-943, 1065-1085, and 1258-1278 of SEQ ID NO:l .

In non-mammalian cells, double- stranded RNA (dsRNA) has been shown to exert a strong and specific silencing effect on gene expression, which is referred as RNA interference (RNAi) (3). dsRNA is processed into 20-23 nucleotides dsRNA called small interfering RNA (siRNA) by an enzyme containing RNase HI motif. The siRNA specifically targets complementary mR A with a multicomponent nuclease complex (4, 5). In mammalian cells, siRNA composed of 20 or 21-mer dsRNA with 19 complementary nucleotides and 3' terminal noncomplementary dimmers of thymidine or uridine, have been shown to have a gene specific knock-down effect without inducing global changes in gene expression (6). In addition, plasmids containing small nuclear RNA (snRNA) U6 or polymerase HI HI -RNA promoter effectively produce such short RNA recruiting type HI class of RNA polymerase HI and thus can constitutively suppress its target RNA (7, 8). 13 different expression plasmids were constructed to express hairpin-looped ZNFN3Al-siRNA (See Example 2). The plasmids were tested for their ability to inhibit cell growth. Four plasmids (psiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-4, -8, -12 and -13) markedly and five plasmids (psiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-2, -5, -6, -7, and -10) moderately suppressed endogeneous ZNFN3A1 expression, while the remaining four plasmids (psiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-l, -3, -9 and -11 exhibited no or little effect on the expression. (Figure 1). Various human hepatoma and colorectal cancer cells transfected with psiU6BX-siZNFN3Al-12, showed reduced number of surviving cells compared to control plasmids. FACS analysis revealed that their death was due to apoptosis.

The growth of cells are inhibited by contacting a cell, with a composition containing a ZNFN3 Al siRNA. The cell is further contacted with a transfection agent. Suitable transfection agents are known in the art. By inhibition of cell growth is meant the cell proliferates at a lower rate or has decreased viability compared to a cell not exposed to the composition. Cell growth is measured by methods known in the art such as, the MTT cell proliferation assay.

The ZNFN3A1 -siRNA is directed to a single target ZNFN3A1 gene sequence. Alternatively, the siRNA is directed to multiple target ZNFN3 Al gene sequences. For example, the composition contains ZNFN3A1- siRNA directed to two, three, four, or five or more ZNFN3A1 target sequences. By ZNFN3A1 target sequence is meant a nucleotide sequence that is identical to a portion of the ZNFN3 Al gene. The target sequence can include the 5' untranslated (UT) region, the open reading frame (ORF) or the 3' untranslated region of the human ZNFN3A1 gene. Alternatively, the siRNA is a nucleic acid sequence complementary to an upstream or downstream modulator of ZNFN3A1 gene expression. Examples of upstream and downstream modulators include, a transcription factor that binds the ZNFN3 Al gene promoter, a kinase or phosphatase that interacts with the ZNFN3A1 polypeptide, a ZNFN3A1 promoter or enhancer.

ZNFN3A1- siRNA which hybridize to target mRNA decrease or inhibit production of the ZNFN3 Al polypeptide product encoded by the ZNFN3 Al gene by associating with the normally single- stranded mRNA transcript, thereby interfering with translation and thus, expression of the protein. The siRNA is less than 500, 200, 100, 50, or 25 nucleotides in length. Preferably the siRNA is 19-25 nucleotides in length. Exemplary nucleic acid sequence for the production of ZNFN3A1 -siRNA include the sequences of nucleotides 451-471 (SEQ ID NO:58), 532-552 (SEQ ID NO:60), 623-643 (SEQ ID NO:61), 625-645 (SEQ ID NO:62), 636-656 (SEQ ID NO:63), 726-746 (SEQ ID NO:64), 923-943 (SEQ ID NO:66), 1065-1085 (SEQ ID NO:68), or 1258-1278 (SEQ ED NO:69) of SEQ ID NO:l as the target sequence. Furthermore, in order to enhance the inhibition activity of the siRNA, nucleotide "u" can be added to 3 'end of the antisense strand of the target sequence. The number of "u"s to be added is at least 2, generally 2 to 10, preferably 2 to 5. The added "u"s form single strand at the 3 'end of the antisense strand of the siRNA. The cell is any cell that expresses or over-expresses ZNFN3 Al . The cell is a hepatic cell or an epithelial cell such as a colon cell. Alternatively, the cell is a tumor cell such as a carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, blastoma, leukemia, myeloma, or sarcoma. The cell is a hepatocellular carcinoma or a colorectal adenocarcinoma cell. An ZNFN3A1 -siRNA is directly introduced into the cells in a form that is capable of binding to the mRNA transcripts. Alternatively, the DNA encoding the ZNFN3A1- siRNA is in a vector.

Vectors are produced for example by cloning a ZNFN3A1 target sequence into an expression vector operatively-linked regulatory sequences flanking the ZNFN3A1 sequence in a manner that allows for expression (by transcription of the DNA molecule) of both strands (Lee, N.S., Dohjima, T., Bauer, G., Li, H., Li, M.-J., Ehsani, A.,Salvaterra, P., and Rossi, J. (2002) Expression of small interfering RNAs targeted against HIV-1 rev transcripts in human cells. Nature Biotechnology 20 : 500-505.). An RNA molecule that is antisense to ZNFN3A1 mRNA is transcribed by a first promoter (e.g., a promoter sequence 3' of the cloned DNA) and an RNA molecule that is the sense strand for the ZNFN3A1 mRNA is transcribed by a second promoter (e.g., a promoter sequence 5' of the cloned DNA). The sense and antisense strands hybridize in vivo to generate siRNA constructs for silencing of the ZNFN3A1 gene. Alternatively, two constructs are utilized to create the sense and anti-sense strands of a siRNA construct. Cloned ZNFN3 Al can encode a construct having secondary structure, e.g., hairpins, wherein a single transcript has both the sense and complementary antisense sequences from the target gene. A loop sequence consisting of an arbitrary nucleotide sequence can be located between the sense and antisense sequence in order to form the hairpin loop structure. Thus, the present invention also provides siRNA having the general formula 5'-[A]-[B]-[A']-3', wherein [A] is a ribonucleotide sequence corresponding to a sequence selected from the group consisting of nucleotides 451-471 (SEQ ID NO:58), 532-552 (SEQ ID NO:60), 623-643 (SEQ ID NO:61), 625-645 (SEQ ID NO:62), 636-656 (SEQ ID NO:63), 726-746 (SEQ ID NO:64), 923-943 (SEQ ID NO:66), 1065-1085 (SEQ ID NO:68), and 1258-1278 (SEQ TD NO:69) of SEQ H NO:l,

[B] is a ribonucleotide sequence consisting of 3 to 23 nucleotides, and

[A'] is a ribonucleotide sequence consisting of the complementary sequence of [A] The region [A] hybridizes to [A'], and then a loop consisting of region [B] is formed. The loop sequence may be preferably 3 to 23 nucleotide in length. The loop sequence, for example, can be selected from group consisting of following sequences (http://www.ambion.com/techlib/tb/tb_506.html). Furthermore, loop sequence consisting of 23 nucleotides also provides active siRNA (Jacque, J.-M., Triques, K., and Stevenson, M. (2002) Modulation of HIV-1 replication by RNA interference. Nature 418 : 435-438.). AUG :Sui, G., Soohoo, C, Affar, E.B., Gay, F., Shi, Y., Forrester, W.C., and Shi, Y. (2002) A DNA vector-based RNAi technology to suppress gene expression in mammalian cells. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. US A 99(8): 5515-5520.

CCC, CCACC or CCACACC: Paul, C.P., Good, P.D., Winer, I., and Engelke, D.R. (2002) Effective expression of small interfering RNA in human cells. Nature Biotechnology 20 : 505-508.

UUCG: Lee, N.S., Dohjima, T., Bauer, G., Li, H., Li, M.-J., Ehsani, A., Salvaterra, P., and Rossi, J. (2002) Expression of small interfering RNAs targeted against HIV-1 rev transcripts in human cells. Nature Biotechnology 20 : 500-505. CTCGAG or AAGCUU: Editors of Nature Cell Biology (2003) Whither RNAi?

Nat Cell Biol. 5:489-490. UUCAAGAGA: Yu, J.-Y., DeRuiter, S.L., and Turner, D.L. (2002) RNA interference by expression of short-interfering RNAs and hairpin RNAs in mammalian cells. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99(9) : 6047-6052.

For example, preferable siRNAs having hairpin loop structure of the present invention are shown below. In the following structure, the loop sequence can be selected from group consisting of AUG, CCC, UUCG, CCACC, CTCGAG, AAGCUU,

CCAC CC, and UUCAAGAGA. Preferable loop sequence is UUCAAGAGA

("ttcaagaga" in DNA). aaucagagaagcuuuacucau-[B]-augaguaaagcuucucugauu (for target sequence of SEQ ID NO:58) aacucguaaugacauuucaac-[B]-guugaaaugucauuacgaguu (for target sequence of SEQ ID

NO:60) aaaagugaucugcaacucuuu-[B]-aaagaguugcagaucacuuuu (for target sequence of SEQ ID

NO:61) aagugaucugcaacucuuuca-[B]-ugaaagaguugcagaucacuu (for target sequence of SEQ ID

NO-.62) aacucuuucaccaucuguaau-[B]-auuacagauggugaaagaguu (for target sequence of SEQ ED

NO:63) aacuguucgauuguguucaau-[B]-auugaacacaaucgaacaguu (for target sequence of SEQ ED NO:64) aacuggugaugagcaaguaug-[B]-cauacuugcucaucaccaguu (for target sequence of SEQ ED

NO:66) aacaucuaccagcugaaggug-[B]-caccuucagcugguagauguu (for target sequence of SEQ ED

NO:68) aagcaaugaagaaucugagac-[B]-gucucagauucuucauugcuu (for target sequence of SEQ ED

NO:69)

The regulatory sequences flanking the ZNFN3 Al sequence are identical or are different, such that their expression can be modulated independently, or in a temporal or spatial manner. siRNAs are transcribed intracellularly by cloning the ZNFN3 Al gene templates into a vector containing, e.g., a RNA pol HI transcription unit from the small nuclear RNA (snRNA) U6 or the human HI RNA promoter. For introducing the vector into the cell, transfection-enhancing agent can be used. FuGENE (Rochediagnostices), Lipofectamin 2000 (Invitrogen), Oligofectamin (Lnvitrogen), and Nucleofactor (Wako pure Chemical) are useful as the transfection-enhancing agent.

Oligonucleotides and oligonucleotides complementary to various portions of ZNFN3A1 mRNA were tested in vitro for their ability to decrease production of ZNFN3A1 in tumor cells (e.g., using the Alexander and HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line and the HCT116 and SW948 colorectal cancer cell line) according to standard methods. A reduction in ZNFN3 Al gene product in cells contacted with the candidate siRNA composition compared to cells cultured in the absence of the candidate composition is detected using ZNFN3A1 -specific antibodies or other detection strategies. Sequences which decrease production of ZNFN3A1 in in vitro cell-based or cell-free assays are then tested for there inhibitory effects on cell growth. Sequences which inhibit cell growth in in vitro cell-based assay are test in in vivo in rats or mice to confirm decreased ZNFN3 Al production and decreased tumor cell growth in animals with malignant neoplasms. Methods of treating malignant tumors

Patients with tumors characterized as over-expressing ZNFN3A1 are treated by administering ZNFN3A1- siRNA. siRNA therapy is used to inhibit expression of ZNFN3A1 in patients suffering from or at risk of developing, for example, hepatocellular carcinomas, or colorectal cancer. Such patients are identified by standard methods of the particular tumor type. Hepatocellular carcinoma is diagnosed for example, by enlargement of the liver, tomography, ultrasound or biopsy. Colorectal cancer is diagnosed for example, by blood in stool, colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, CEA Assay, double contrast barium enema CT Scan, tomography or biopsy.

Treatment is efficacious if the treatment leads to clinical benefit such as, a reduction in expression of ZNFN3A1, or a decrease in size, prevalence, or metastatic potential of the tumor in the subject. When treatment is applied prophylactically, "efficacious" means that the treatment retards or prevents tumors from forming or prevents or alleviates a symptom of clinical symptom of the tumor. Efficaciousness is determined in association with any known method for diagnosing or treating the particular tumor type. siRNA therapy is carried out by administering to a patient a siRNA by standard vectors and/or gene delivery systems. Suitable gene delivery systems may include liposomes, receptor-mediated delivery systems, or viral vectors such as herpes viruses, retroviruses, adenoviruses and adeno-associated viruses, among others. A reduction in ZNFN3A1 production results in a decrease ZNFN3A1 complex formation with KIAA0054 protein and RNA polymerase H or a decrease in ZNFN3 Al protein expression. A therapeutic nucleic acid composition is formulated in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The therapeutic composition may also include a gene delivery system as described above. Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers are biologically compatible vehicles which are suitable for administration to an animal, e.g., physiological saline. A therapeutically effective amount of a compound is an amount which is capable of producing a medically desirable result such as reduced production of a ZNFN3 Al gene product, reduction of cell growth, e.g., proliferation, or a reduction in tumor growth in a treated animal.

Parenteral administration, such as intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intraperitoneal delivery routes, may be used to deliver ZNFN3Al-siRNA compositions. For treatment of hepatic tumors, direct infusion the portal vein is useful.

Dosages for any one patient depends upon many factors, including the patient's size, body surface area, age, the particular nucleic acid to be administered, sex, time and route of administration, general health, and other drugs being administered concurrently. Dosage for intravenous administration of nucleic acids is from approximately 10⁶ to 10²² copies of the polynucleotide.

The polynucleotides are administered by standard methods, such as by injection into the interstitial space of tissues such as muscles or skin, introduction into the circulation or into body cavities or by inhalation or insufflation. Polynucleotides are injected or otherwise delivered to the animal with a pharmaceutically acceptable Uquid carrier, e.g., a Uquid carrier, which is aqueous or partly aqueous. The polynucleotides are associated with a liposome (e.g., a cationic or anionic Uposome). The polynucleotide includes genetic information necessary for expression by a target ceU, such as a promoters. Unless otherwise defined, aU technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skiU in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. All pubUcations, patent appUcations, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, wiU control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a photograph of an immunoblot showing the effect of ZNFN3 Al siRNAs on exogeneous ZNFN3A1 expression in COS7 ceUs.

Fig. 2 is a photograph of an immunoblot showing the expression of ZNFN3 Al protein in hepatoma and colon cancer ceU Unes.

Fig. 3 is a photograph of an immunoblot showing the effect of ZNFN3A1 -siRNAs on endogeneous ZNFN3A1 expression in SNU475 cell transfected with psiU6BX- ZNFN3A1-1, -4, -12 or psiU6BX-mock plasmids.

Fig. 4A -B are bar charts showing the effect of ZNFN3Al-siRNAs on ceU growth in SNU475 ceUs. ViabiUty of transfected ceUs was measured by MTT assay 6 (Panel A) and 9 (panel B) days after the transfection. Fig. 5 are bar charts showing growth suppressive effect of ZNFN3Al-siRNAs in various human hepatoma and colon cancer ceUs. ViabiUty of transfected cells was measured by MTT assay, 9 to 12 days after the transfection.

Figure 6 is an iUustration showing ceU death in response to ZNFN3A1 -siRNAs in SNU475 cell detected by FACS analysis.

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

The invention wiU be further described in the foUowing examples, which do not limit the scope of the invention described in the claims.

[Example 1] General Methods

Cell lines and tissue specimens

Human hepatoma ceU lines Alexander and HepG2, human colon cancer Unes HCT116 and SW948, and monkey fibroblast ceU Une COS7 were obtained from the American Type Culture CoUection (ATCC). Human hepatoma ceU Une Huh7 was obtained from Japanese CoUection of Research Bioresources (JCRB). Human hepatoma ceU Unes, SNU398, SNU423, SNU449 and SNU475 were obtained from the Korea cell- Une bank. AU these ceUs are pubUcly available.

AU cell Unes were grown in monolayers in appropriate media: Dulbecco' s modified Eagle' s medium for Alexander, Huh7, HepG2 and COS7; McCoy's 5A for HCT116; Leibovitz's L-15 for SW948; RPMI1640 for SNU398, SNU423, SNU449 and SNU475 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and 1% antibiotic/antimycotic solution (Sigma). AU cells were maintained at 37 °C in humid air with 5% CO₂, (Alexander, Huh7, HepG2, SNU398, SNU423, SNU449, SNU475, HCT116, and COS7) or without CO₂(SW948).

Cloning ofZNFN3Al

Cloning of ZNFN3A1 was done by PCR using KOD-plus (TOYOBO). For E. CoU expression, coding region of ZNFN3A1 was cloned in the EcoR l-Kpn I site of pΕT21a. For mammalian ceU expression, coding region of ZNFN3A1 was cloned in the EcoR l- pn I site of pcDNA3.1 (+) and (-) (Invitrogen), EcoR l-Kpn I site ot pFLAG and EcoR l-Kpn I site of pΕGFP (Clontech). Coding region of KIAA0054 was cloned in the EcoR l-Xho I site of pCMV-HA (Clontech).

ZNFN3A1 Polyclonal Antibody Production Rabbit anti-ZNFN3Al polyclonal antibody was generated. FuU coding sequence of

ZNFN3A1 was ampUfied by PCR reaction using testis cDNA as a template and cloned in pΕT21 a (Novagen). The cloned vector was transfected into BL21-CodonPlus® competent cells (Stratagene). Recombinant ZNFN3A1 protein was induced by 1.0 mM JPTG at 30°C for 6 h. His-ZNFN3A1 fusion protein was purified using Pro Bond™ Resin (Invitrogen). Rabbits were immunized ten times with purified His-ZNFN3 Al . Lnmunoblotting with this polyclonal antibody showed single 50 kD band of FLAG-tagged ZNFN3A1, which was identical pattern to that detected using anti-FLAG monoclonal antibody (Sigma) (data not shown).

RNA preparation and RT-PCR

Total RNA was extracted with Trizol reagent (Life technologies) according to the manufacturer' s protocol. Ten-microgram aUquots of total RNA were reversely transcribed for single- stranded cDNAs using poly dT_12-18 primer (Amersham Biosciences) with Superscript H reverse transcriptase (Life Technologies). Each single- stranded cDNA was diluted for subsequent PCR amplification. Standard RT-PCR was carried out in a 20 μl volume of PCR buffer (TAKARA), and amplified for 4 min at 94 °C for denaturing, followed by 20 (for GAPDH) or 30 (for ZNFN3A1) cycles of 94 °C for 30 s, 56 °C for 30 s,

72 °C for 30 s, in the Gene Amp PCR system 9700 (Perkin-Elmer). Primer sequence were as foUows, for GAPDH forward; 5'-ACAACAGCCTCAAGATCATCAG-3' (SEQ ED No: 29) and reverse; 5'-GGTCCACCACTGACACGTTG-3' (SEQ ED No: 30), for or ZNFN3A1 forward; 5'-TTCCCGATATCAACATCTACCAG-3' (SEQ ID No: 31) and reverse; 5'-AGTGTGTGACCTCAATAAGGCAT-3' (SEQ ED No: 32).

Construction ofpsiU6BX6 Plasmid

The DNA flagment encoding siRNA was inserted into the GAP at nucleotide 485-490 as indicated (-) in the following plasmid sequence (SEQ ED No: 33).

GACGGATCGGGAGATCTCCCGATCCCCTATGGTGCACTCTCAGTACAATCTGCTCTGGAT CCACTAGTAACGGCCGCCAGTGTGCTGGAATTCGGCTTGGGGATCAGCGTTTGAGTAAGA GCCCGCGTCTGAACCCTCCGCGCCGCCCCGGCCCCAGTGGAAAGACGCGCAGGCAAAACG CACCACGTGACGGAGCGTGACCGCGCGCCGAGCGCGCGCCAAGGTCGGGCAGGAAGAGGG CCTATTTCCCATGATTCCTTCATATTTGCATATACGATACAAGGCTGTTAGAGAGATAAT TAGAATTAATTTGACTGTAAACACAAAGATATTAGTACAAAATACGTGACGTAGAAAGTA ATAATTTCTTGGGTAGTTTGCAGTTTTAAAATTATGTTTTAAAATGGACTATCATATGCT TACCGTAACTTGAAAGTATTTCGATTTCTTGGCTTTATATATCTTGTGGAAAGGACGAAA

CACC TTTTTACATCAGGTTGTTTTTCTGTTTGGTTTTTTTTTTACACCACGTTT

ATACGCCGGTGCACGGTTTACCACTGAAAACACCTTTCATCTACAGGTGATATCTTTTAA CACAAATAAAATGTAGTAGTCCTAGGAGACGGAATAGAAGGAGGTGGGGCCTAAAGCCGA ATTCTGCAGATATCCATCACACTGGCGGCCGCTCGAGTGAGGCGGAAAGAACCAGCTGGG GCTCTAGGGGGTATCCCCACGCGCCCTGTAGCGGCGCATTAAGCGCGGCGGGTGTGGTGG TTACGCGCAGCGTGACCGCTACACTTGCCAGCGCCCTAGCGCCCGCTCCTTTCGCTTTCT TCCCTTCCΪTTCTCGCCΑCGTTCGCCGGCTTTCCCCGTCMGCTCTaϊ TCGGGGGCTCC CϊTTS\GGGϊTCCG^TTTkGTGCTTT7AC CaCCTCGIlCCCCMiZ iia,CTTGS.TTa G TG aϊGGϊTCΔCGT GTGGGCCaTCGCCCTG7ATaGa,C GΪTTTTCGCCCϊTTG7ΛC TTG aGΪ CC CGΪTCTTΪS^TΔ T GaCTCϊTGΪTCCTZ CΪGG CZ^CTACTa^CCCϊaTCTC G TCTaTTCTΪTϊGaϊTTTvTZXZX ZiϊTTΪ CCG TTTCGGCCTΛTT GTΪ z aT Zi C TGATTTAACAAAAATTTAACGCGAATTAATTCTGTGGAATGTGTGTCAGTTAGGGTGTGG AAAGTCCCCAGGCTCCCCAGCAGGCAGAAGTATGCAAAGCATGCATCTCAATTAGTCAGC AACCAGGTGTGGAAAGTCCCCAGGCTCCCCAGCAGGCAGAAGTATGCAAAGCATGCATCT

CAaTTaGTCa.GCΔϊ.CCΔTΛGTCCCGCCCCTaiACTCCGCCCΑTCCCGCCCCTa-^CTCCGCC CZiGTTCCGCCCTAΪTCTCCGCCCCZiTGGCTGaCTaiΔTTTTTΪ'ΪTΔTTΪΔ'ΪGCΔGΔGGCCG GGCC CCSCTGCCECT Σ CTZXΪϊC^GZ T GTGΔGGΔGGCϊES'ϊϊϊGGZXGGCCTΔGG CTTTT CZ^Z\Z CΪCCCGG CETGTΔT TCC ΪTTTCG TCT ΔSCE^GZ ΔCΔΘ TGΔGGaTCGTTϊCGC TGΔTΪGZ CΔΔGΔΪGGΔΪTGCΔCGCTΛGGTΪCΪCCGGCCGCTΪ'G GGTGGa ΔG CTa_iTTCGGCTa_iTGaCTGGGCΔCIl C aC- kTC GCTGCTCT aT CC C CGTGTTCCGGCΪGϊCΔGCGCΔGGGGCGCCCGGTTCΪΪΪTTGΪCZ GΔCCGΔCCTGTCCGG TGCCCTGZ TGaa,CTGGaGGa,CGaGGCΔGCGCGGCTΔTCGTGGCΪGGCCΔCGΔCGGGCGT TCCTTGCGCAGC!TGTGCTCGa.CGTTGTCa,CTGa2lGCGGGJSLGGG^CTGGCTGCTJlTTGGG CGaaGTGCC GG C^GGATCTCCTGTCATCTCaCCTTGCTCCTGCCG GlM GTaTCCAT CATGGCTGATGCAATGCGGCGGCTGCATACGCTTGATCCGGCTACCTGCCCATTCGACCA CCAAGCGAAACATCGCATCGAGCGAGCACGTACTCGGATGGAAGCCGGTCTTGTCGATCA GGATGATCTGGACGAAGAGCATCAGGGGCTCGCGCCAGCCGAACTGTTCGCCAGGCTCAA GGCGCGCATGCCCGACGGCGAGGATCTCGTCGTGACCCATGGCGATGCCTGCTTGCCGAA TATCATGGTGGAAAATGGCCGCTTTTCTGGATTCATCGACTGTGGCCGGCTGGGTGTGGC GGACCGCTATCAGGACATAGCGTTGGCTACCCGTGATATTGCTGAAGAGCTTGGCGGCGA ATGGGCTGACCGCTTCCTCGTGCTTTACGGTATCGCCGCTCCCGATTCGCAGCGCATCGC CTTCTATCGCCTTCTTGACGAGTTCTTCTGAGCGGGACTCTGGGGTTCGAAATGACCGAC CAAGCGACGCCCAACCTGCCATCACGAGATTTCGATTCCACCGCCGCCTTCTATGAAAGG TTGGGCTTCGGAATCGTTTTCCGGGACGCCGGCTGGATGATCCTCCAGCGCGGGGATCTC ATGCTGGAGTTCTTCGCCCACCCCAACTTGTTTATTGCAGCTTATAATGGTTACAAATAA AGCAATAGCATCACAAATTTCACAAATAAAGCATTTTTTTCACTGCATTCTAGTTGTGGT TTGTCCAAACTCATCAATGTATCTTATCATGTCTGTATACCGTCGACCTCTAGCTAGAGC TTGGCGTAATCATGGTCATAGCTGTTTCCTGTGTGAAATTGTTATCCGCTCACAATTCCA CACAACATACGAGCCGGAAGCATAAAGTGTAAAGCCTGGGGTGCCTAATGAGTGAGCTAA CTCACATTAATTGCGTTGCGCTCACTGCCCGCTTTCCAGTCGGGAAACCTGTCGTGCCAG CTGCATTAATGAATCGGCCAACGCGCGGGGAGAGGCGGTTTGCGTATTGGGCGCTCTTCC GCTTCCTCGCTCACTGACTCGCTGCGCTCGGTCGTTCGGCTGCGGCGAGCGGTATCAGCT CACTGδAAGGCGGTAATACGGTTATCCACAGAATCAGGGGATAACGCAGGAAAGAACΑTG TGAGCAAAAGGCCAGCAAAAGGCCAGGAACCGTAAAAAGGCCGCGTTGCTGGCGTTTTTC CATAGGCTCCGCCCCCCTGACGAGCATCACAAAAATCGACGCTCAAGTCAGAGGTGGCGA i iCCCGΔC ,GGACTaϊ iGAT2CCIlGGCGTTTCCCCCTGGj GCTCCCTCGTGCGCTCΪ CCΪGΪTCCGΔCCCTGCCGCTTΔCGGGΔΪΔCCTGΪCCGCCTTTCTCCCTTCGGGΔΔGCGTG GCGCΪΪTCTCΔTΔGCTCΔCGCTGΪΔGGTΔTCTCΔGTTCGGTGΪΔGGTCGΪTCGCTCCΔΔG CTGGGCΪGTGTGCΔCGΔΔCCCCCCGTTCΔGCCCGΔCCGCTGCGCCTTΔTCCGGTΔΔCTΔT CGϊeTΪGΔGΪCCΔΔCCCGGϊΔΔGΔCΔCGΔCTTΔTCGCCΔCTGGCΔGCΔGCCΔCΪGGTΔΔC AGGATTAGCAGAGCGAGGTATGTAGGCGGTGCTACAGAGTTCTTGAAGTGGTGGCCTAAC TACGGCTACACTAGAAGAACAGTATTTGGTATCTGCGCTCTGCTGAAGCCAGTTACCTTC GGAAAAAGAGTTGGTAGCTCTTGATCCGGCAAACAAACCACCGCTGGTAGCGGTTTTTTT TΪϊ Cϊ^GC GC GaTTΔCGGGC^GZM ΔM_iGGaϊCTC2-Δ a₁a,G TCCTTΪ TCTTT TCΪΔCGGGGSCTGΔCGCTCΔGΪGGΔΔCGΔΔΔΔCTCΔCGΪΪ'ΔΔGGGΔTETI'GGΪCΔTGΔGΔ TTΔTCΔΔΔΔΔGGΔΪCTSCΔCCTΔGΔTCCΪTTTΔΔΔΪWΔΔΔΔΔTGΔΔGTΪETΔΔΔΪCΔΔTC TΔZ GΪΔΪΔϊΔTGΔGΪΔΔΔCTΪGGϊCϊGΔCΔGϊTΔCCΔΔTGCTTΔΔϊ'CΔGTGΔGGCΔCCT ΔTCTCΔGCGΔTCΪGΪCΪΔΪTTCGΪΪCΔTCCΔTΔGΪ'TGCCTGΔCTCCCCGTCGTGΪΔGΔTΔ ΔCΪΔCGΔT CGGGΔGGGCTTUCCΔTCTGGCCCCIlGTGCTGCΔΔTGS.TΔCCGCGaGaCCCli CGCTCΔCCGGCΪCCΔGΔTTΪΔΪCΔGCSΔΪΔΔΔCGΔGCCΔGCCGGi iGGGCCGΔGCGCΔGΔ JGTGGTCCTGC kCTTTa.ϊCCGCCTCCΔTCCΔGTCTΔTTΔΔTTGTTGCCGGGΔΔGCTΔGΔ GTJAGΪlGTTCGCCIGTTJ iTΔGTTTGCGC- CG TGTTGCCaTTGCTJkCa.GGCa.ϊCGϊG GTGTCaCGCϊCGTCGTTTGGTAϊGGCTTCATTCEiGCTCCGGΪTCCCa∑lCGΔTCaΔGGCGΔ GTTACATGATCCCCCATGTTGTGCAAAAAAGCGGTTAGCTCCTTCGGTCCTCCGATCGTT GTCAGAAGTAAGTTGGCCGCAGTGTTATCACTCATGGTTATGGCAGCACTGCATAATTCT CTTACTGTCATGCCATCCGTAAGATGCTTTTCTGTGACTGGTGAGTACTCAACCAAGTCA TTCTGAGAATAGTGTATGCGGCGACCGAGTTGCTCTTGCCCGGCGTCAATACGGGATAAT ACCGCGCCΛCATAGCAGAACTTTAAAAGTGCTCATCATTGGAAAACGTTCTTCGGGGCGA AAACTCTCAAGGATCTTACCGCTGTTGAGATCCAGTTCGATGTAACCCACTCGTGCACCC AACTGATCTTCAGCATCTTTTACTTTCACCAGCGTTTCTGGGTGAGCAAAAACAGGAAGG CAAAATGCCGCAAAAAAGGGAATAAGGGCGACACGGAAATGTTGAATACTCATACTCTTC CTTTTTCAATATTATTGAAGCATTTATCAGGGTTATTGTCTCATGAGCGGATACATATTT GAATGTATTTAGAAAAATAAACAAATAGGGGTTCCGCGCACATTTCCCCGAAAAGTGCCA CCTGACGTC snRNA U6 gene is reported to be transcribed by RNA polymerase Ed, which produce short transcripts with uridines at the 3' end. The genomic fragment of the snRNA U6 gene containing the promoter region was amplified by PCR using a set of primers,

5'-GGGGATCAGCGTTTGAGTAA-3' (SEQ ED No: 34), and

5'-TAGGCCCCACCTCCTTCTAT-3' (SEQ ID No: 35) and human placental DNA as a template. The product was purified and cloned into pCR plasmid vector using a TA cloning kit according to the suppUer' s protocol (Invitrogen). The BamΗl, Xhό fragment containing the snRNA U6 gene was purified and cloned into nucleotide 1257 to 56 fragment of pcDNA3.1(+) plasmid, which was amplified by PCR with a set of primer, 5'-TGCGGATCCAGAGCAGATTGTACTGAGAGT-3' (SEQ ID No: 36) and 5'- CTCTATCTCGAGTGAGGCGGAAAGAACCA-3' (SEQ ID No: 37). The Ugated DNA was used for a template of PCR with primers, 5'-TTTAAGCTTGAAGACTATTTTTACATCAGGTTGTTTTTCT-3' (SEQ ED No: 38) and

5'-TTTAAGCTTGAAGACACGGTGTTTCGTCCTTTCCACA-3' (SEQ ID No: 39). The product was digested with HindHI, which was subsequently self-Ugated to produce psiU6BX vector plasmid. For the control, psiU6BX-EGFP was prepared by cloning double-stranded oUgonucleotides of

5 ' - C ACCGAAGC AGC ACGACTTCTTCTTC AAGAGAGAAGAAGTCGTGCT GCTTC-3' (SEQ ED No: 40) and

5'- AAAAGAAGCAGCACGACTTCTTCTCTCTTGAAGAAGAAGTCGTGCT GCTTC -3' (SEQ ED No: 41) into the Bbsl site in the psiU6BX vector.

Immunoblotting

The polyclonal antibody to ZNFN3A1 was previously purified from sera of immunized rabbits with recombinant His-tagged ZNFN3 Al protein. Proteins were separated by 10% SDS-PAGE and immunoblotted with the anti-ZNFN3Al antibody.

HRP-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Santa Cruz, CA) served as the secondary antibody for the ECL Detection System (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Piscataway, NJ). Unmunoblotting with the anti-ZNFN3Al antibody showed single 50 kD band of FLAG-tagged ZNFN3A1, which was identical pattern to that detected using anti- FLAG antibody

3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay

CeUs were transfected with psiU6BX-siZNFN3Al or control plamids and maintained in the culture media supplemented with optimum concentration of geneticin. Six to twelve days after transfection, the medium was replaced with fresh medium containing 500 μg/ml of MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) (Sigma) and the plates were incubated for four hours at 37°C. Subsequently, the cells were lysed by the addition of 1 ml of 0.01 N HC1/10%SDS and. absorbance of lysates was measured with an ELISA plate reader at a test wavelength of 570 nm (reference, 630 nm). The ceU viabiUty was represented by the absorbance compared to that of control ceUs.

Flow cytometrv

The effect of ZNFN3A1 in cell cycle progression was determined by flow cytometry. CeUs were plated at a density of 1X10⁵ ceUs/100 mm dish. The ceUs were trypsinized at the given time course, coUected in PBS and fixed in 70% cold ethanol. After RNase treatment, cells were stained with propidium iodide (50 μg/ml) in PBS. Flow cytometry was performed on a Becton Dickinson FACScan and analyzed by CeUQuest and ModFit software (Verity Software House), The percentages of nuclei in G0/G1 , S and G2/M phases of the ceU cycle, and any sub-Gl population were determined from at least 20,000 ungated cells.

To examine the role of ZNFN3A1 -siRNAs in ceU cycle, 1X10⁵ of SNU475 cells transfected with psiU6BX-ZNFN3Al or control plasmids were coUected by trypsinization at 5 days after transfection. After fixation in 70% cold ethanol, ceUs were treated with RNase and propidium iodide (50 μg/ml) in PBS, and analyzed by a FACScan (Becton Dickinson, San Jose, CA). The percentages of cells in G0/G1, S and G2/M phases of the cell cycle, and any sub-Gl population were determined from at least 20,000 ungated ceUs using ModFit software (Verity Software House)

[Example 2] Production and Characterization of Plasmids Expressing ZNFN3 Al siRNAs The entire coding sequence of ZNFN3A1 was amplified with a set of primers, 5'-

GGGGTACCAGGATGGAGCCGCTGAAGGTGG-3' (SEQ ED No: 42), and 5'- GGGAATTCTTAGGATGCTCTGATGTTGGCGTCG-3' (SEQ ED No: 43) and cloned into the appropriate cloning sites of pcDNA 3.1(+) vector (Invitrogen) (pcDNA-

ZNFN3A1). Plasmids expressing ZNFN3Al-siRNAs were prepared by cloning of double- stranded oligonucleotides into psiU6BX vector.

The nucleotide sequence of the siRNAs were designed using an siRNA design computer program available from the Ambion website. (http://www.ambion.com/techUb/misc/siRNA_finder.html). Briefly, nucleotide sequences for siRNA synthesis are selected using the following protocol. Selection of siRNA Target Sites:

1. Starting with the AUG start codon of the ZNFN3 Al transcript, scan downstream for an AA dinucleotide sequences. The occurrence of each AA and the 3' adjacent 19 nucleotides are recorded as potential siRNA target sites. Tuschl et al. recommend against designing siRNA to the 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) and regions near the start codon (within 75bases) as these may be richer in regulatory protein binding sites. UTR-binding proteins and/or translation initiation complexes may interfere with binding of the siRNA endonuclease complex.

2. The potential target sites are compared to the appropriate genome database (human, mouse, rat, etc.) to eliminate target sequences with significant homology to other coding sequences.

3. Qualifying target sequences are selected for synthesis. Several target sequences along the length of the gene are selected for evaluation. The oligonucleotides used for ZNFN3A1 siRNAs are shown below. psiU6BX-ZNFN3Al 1-13 (siRNA 1-13) were prepared by cloning the foUowing double-stranded oUgonucleotide into the Bbsl site of the psiU6 vector. The corresponding nucleotide position relative to the ZNFN3A1 nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:l is Usted for each oUgonucleotide sequence. Each oUgionucleotide is a combination of a sense nucleotide sequence and an antisense nucleotide sequence of the target sequence ZNFN3A1. The nucleotide sequences of the hairpin loop structure and target sequence of siRNAl to 13 are shown in SEQ ID NO:44 to SEQ D NO:56 and SEQ ED NO:57 to SEQ ED NO:69, respectively (endonuclease recognition cites are eUminated from each hairpin loop structure sequence).

psiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-l /siRNAl: (nucleotide numbers 426-446 of SEQ ED No: 1) 5'- CACCAAACTTATGGATGGAGCACCTTTCAAGAGAAGGTGCTCCATCCATAA GTTT-3' (SEQ ID NO: 3) and

5 ' - A A AAAA ACTTATGGATGGAGC ACCTTCTCTTGAA AGGTGCTCC ATCC ATAA GTTT-3' (SEQ ID NO: 4)

psiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-2 /siRNA2: (nucleotide numbers 451-471 of SEQ ID No: 1)

5 ' -C ACC AATC AGAGAAGCTTTACTC ATTTC AAGAGA ATGAGTAAAGCTTCTCTG

ATT-3' (SEQ ED NO: 5) and

5 ' -AAAAAATC AGAGAAGCTTTACTC ATTCTCTTGAAATGAGTAAAGCTTCTCTG

ATT-3' (SEQ ED NO: 6)

psiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-3 /siRNA3 : (nucleotide numbers 495-515 of SEQ ED No: 1) siRNA2; 5'- CACCAACAAACTGACTGAAGATAAGTTCAAGAGACTTATCTTCAG TCAGTTTGTT-3' (SEQ LD NO: 7) and

5 ' -AA AAAAC AAACTG ACTGAAGATA AGTCTCTTGAACTTATCTTC AGTC AGTTT GTT-3' (SEQ ED NO: 8)

ρsiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-4 /siRNA4: (nucleotide numbers 532-552 of SEQ ED No: 1) 5'- CACCAACTCGTAATGACATTTCAACTTCAAGAGAGTTGAAATGTCATTACG AGTT-3' (SEQ ED NO: 9)and

5'-AAAAAACTCGTAATGACATTTCAACTCTCTTGAAGTTGAAATGTCATTACGA GTT-3' (SEQ ED NO: 10)

psiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-5 /siRNA5: (nucleotide numbers 623-643 of SEQ ID No: 1) 5 ' - C ACC AAAAGTGATCTGC AACTCTTTTTC AAGAGA AAAGAGTTGC AGATC AC TTTT-3' (SEQ ED NO: ll)and 5'-AAAAAAAAGTGATCTGCAACTCTTTTCTCTTGAAAAAGAGTTGCAGATCACT TTT-3' (SEQ ID NO: 12)

psiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-6 /siRNA6: (nucleotide numbers 625-645 of SEQ ED No: 1) 5'- CACCAAGTGATCTGCAACTCTTTCATTCAAGAGATGAAAGAGTTGCAGATC ACTT-3' (SEQ ID NO: 13)and

5'-AAAAAAGTGATCTGCAACTCTTTCATCTCTTGAATGAAAGAGTTGCAGATCA CTT-3' (SEQ ID NO: 14)

psiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-7 /siRNA7: (nucleotide numbers 636-656 of SEQ ED No: 1) 5'- CACCAACTCTTTC ACC ATCTGTAATTTC AAGAGA ATT AC AGATGGTGAAAG AGTT-3' (SEQ ED NO: 15)and

5'-AAAAAACTCTTTCACCATCTGTAATTCTCTTGAAATTACAGATGGTGAAAGA GTT-3' (SEQ ED NO: 16)

psiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-8 /siRNA8: (nucleotide numbers 726-746 of SEQ ED No: 1)

5'-CACCAACTGTTCGATTGTGTTCAATTTCAAGAGAATTGAACACAATCGAACA GTT-3' (SEQ ID NO: 17)and 5'-AAAAAACTGTTCGATTGTGTTCAATTCTCTTGAAATTGAACACAATCGAACA

GTT-3' (SEQ ED NO: 18)

psiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-9 /siRNA9: (nucleotide numbers 906-926 of SEQ ED No: 1) 5'- CACCAAGGATGCTGATATGCTAACTTTCAAGAGAAGTTAGCATATCAGCAT CCTT-3' (SEQED NO: 19)and

5'-AAAAAAGGATGCTGATATGCTAACTTCTCTTGAAAGTTAGCATATCAGCATC CTT-3'(SEQEDNO:20)

psiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-10 /siRNAlO: (nucleotide numbers 923-943 of SEQ ID No: 1)

5 ' - C ACC AACTGGTGATGAGC AAGT ATGTTC AAGAGAC AT ACTTGCTC ATC ACC

AGTT-3' (SEQ ED NO: 21) and

5'-AAAAAACTGGTGATGAGCAAGTATGTCTCTTGAACATACTTGCTCATCACCA

GTT-3' (SEQ ED NO: 22)

psiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-ll /siRNAl 1: (nucleotide numbers 937-957 of SEQ ID No: 1)

5 ' - C ACC AAGTATGGAAGGAAGTTC AAGTTC AAGAGACTTGAACTTCCTTCC AT

ACTT-3' (SEQ ID NO: 23)and

5 ' -AAAAAAGTATGGAAGGAAGTTC AAGTCTCTTGAACTTGAACTTCCTTCC ATA CTT-3' (SEQ ED NO: 24)

psiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-12 /siRNA12: (nucleotide numbers 1065-1085 of SEQ ED No: 1) 5 ' - C ACC AAC ATCTACC AGCTGAAGGTGTTC AAGAGAC ACCTTC AGCTGGTAGA TGTT-3' (SEQ ID NO: 25)and 5 ' -AAAAA AC ATCTACC AGCTGAAGGTGTCTCTTGA AC ACCTTC AGCTGGTAGAT GTT-3' (SEQ ED NO: 26)

psiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-13 /siRNA13: (nucleotide numbers 1258-1278 of SEQ ED No: 1) 5 ' - C ACC AAGC AATGAAGAATCTGAGACTTC AAGAGAGTCTC AGATTCTTC ATT GCTT-3' (SEQ ID NO: 27) and

5 ' -AAAAA AGC AATGAAG A ATCTGAGACTCTCTTGA AGTCTC AGATTCTTC ATTG CTT-3' (SEQ ED NO: 28) psiU6BX-siZNFN3Al or psiU6BX-mock plasmids were transfected with pcDNA- ZNFN3A1 into COS7 ceUs using FuGENEβ reagent according to the suppUer's recommendations (Roche). The plasmids were solely transfected into SNU479 ceUs expressing abundant amount of endogeneous ZNFN3 Al . Whole extracts of the ceUs were lysed 2 days after the transfection and utilized for immunoblot analysis.

Among the 13 different expression plasmids expressing ZNFN3A1 siRNAs, psiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-8, -12, and -13 most significantly reduced expression of exogeneous ZNFN3A1 by western blot analysis, when they were transfected into COS7 ceUs together with pcDNA-ZNFN3 Al . Among other plasmids, psiU6BX-ZNFN3 Al -4 showed marked reduction, and psiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-2, -5, -6, -7 and -10 exerted moderate suppression, whereas psiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-l, -3, -9 and -11 had no or Uttle effect on the expression (Figure 1). To further examine RNAi activity of ZNFN3A1 siRNAs, we transfected ρsiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-l, -4, -12, or psiU6BX-mock into SNU475 ceUs that express abundant amount of ZNFN3A1 (Figure 2). Western blot analysis using the extracts of transfected ceUs demonstrated marked reduction of endogeneous ZNFN3 Al by psiU6BX- ZNFN3A1-12, and moderate suppression by psiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-4 compared to ceUs transfected with psiU6BX-mock. On the other hand transfection with psiU6BX- ZNFN3A1-1 did not affect expression of ZNFN3A1 (Figure 3).

[Example 3] Growth suppression of hepatoma and colon cancer ceUs by ZNFN3A1 siRNA

To test whether suppression of ZNFN3A1 may result in growth suppression of hepatoma cells, SNU475 cells were transfected with either psiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-12, the vector that demonstrated the most knock down effect on the expression; psiU6BX- ZNFN3A1-4 which demonstrated mild silencing effect; psiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-l which demonstrated no silencing effect, or psiU6BX-mock. MTT assays at both 6 days and 9 days of transfection showed that psiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-12 has the highest growth inhibitory effect and that psiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-l did not change the number of surviving ceUs compared with ceUs transfected with psiU6BX-mock (Figure 4). The growth inhibitory effect of the plasmids was correlated to their gene silencing activity. To further demonstrate the growth inhibitory effect of ZNFN3A1 -siRNAs, psiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-12; psiU6BX-EGFP For the control, psiU6BX-EGFP was prepared by cloning the foUowing double- stranded oUgonucleotide

5'- CACCGAAGCAGCACGACTTCTTCTTCAAGAGAGAAGAAGTCGTGCT

GCTTC-3' (SEQ ID No: 40) and 5 ' - AAAAGAAGC AGC ACGACTTCTTCTCTCTTGAAGAAGAAGTCGTGCT

GCTTC -3' (SEQ ED No: 41) into the Bbsl site of the psiU6BX vector. or psiU6BX-mock was transfected into various hepatoma ceU Unes including

SNU398, SNU423, SNU449, Huh7, Alexander, and HepG2 and two colon cancer ceU Unes,

SW948 and HCT116. Transfection of ρsiU6BX-ZNFN3Al-12 significantly reduced number of surviving ceUs compared with that of psiU6BX-EGFP or psiU6BX-mock

(Figure 5). Furthermore, FACS analysis demonstrated that transfection of psiU6BX-

ZNFN3A1-12 increased the number of ceUs in sub-Gl phase (Figure 6). These results indicate that ZNFN3A1 contributes to aberrant cell growth and/or survival in a wide range of human cancer ceUs.

Industrial AppUcabiUty

The present inventors have shown that the ceU growth is suppressed by smaU interfering RNA (siRNA) that specificaUy target the ZNFN3A1 gene. Thus, this novel siRNAs are useful target for the development of anti-cancer pharmaceuticals. For example, agents that block the expression of ZNFN3 Al or prevent its activity may find therapeutic utility as anti-cancer agents, particularly anti-cancer agents for the treatment of liver cancer or colon cancer, such as HCC or colorectal adenocarcinoma.

While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skiUed in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

References

(1) Akriviadis EA, Llovet JM, Efremidis SC, Shouval D, Canelo R, Ringe B, Meyers WC. HepatoceUular carcinoma. Br J Surg. 1998 Oct;85(10):1319-31.

(2) Okabe H, Satoh S, Kato T, Kitahara O, Yanagawa R, Yamaoka Y, Tsunoda T, Furukawa Y, Nakamura Y. Genome-wide analysis of gene expression in human hepatocellular carcinomas using cDNA microarray: identification of genes involved in viral carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Cancer Res. 2001 Mar l;61(5):2129-37.

(3) Sharp PA. RNAi and double-strand RNA. Genes Dev. 1999 Jan 15;13(2):139-41..

(4) Hammond SM, Bernstein E, Beach D, Hannon GJ. An RNA-directed nuclease mediates post-transcriptional gene silencing in Drosophila ceUs. Nature. 2000 Mar

16;404(6775):293-6.

(5) Hannon GJ. RNA interference. Nature. 2002 Jul 11;418(6894):244-51.

(6) Elbashir SM, Harborth J, Lendeckel W, Yalcin A, Weber K, Tuschl T. Duplexes of 21- nucleotide RNAs mediate RNA interference in cultured mammaUan ceUs. Nature. 2001 May 24;411(6836):494-8.

(7) Miyagishi M, Taira K. U6 promoter-driven siRNAs with four uridine 3' overhangs efficiently suppress targeted gene expression in mammaUan ceUs.Nat Biotechnol. 2002 May;20(5):497-500

(8) Brummelkamp TR, Bernards R, Agami R. A System for Stable Expression of Short Interfering RNAs in MammaUan CeUs Science. 296(5567):550-553 , April 19, 2002.

Claims

1. A method of inhibiting tumor ceU growth in a subject, comprising administering to said subject a composition comprising a ZNFN3A1 smaU interfering RNA (siRNA).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said siRNA comprises a sense ZNFN3A1 nucleic acid and an anti-sense ZNFN3A1 nucleic acid.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said tumor ceU is a colorectal cancer ceU or liver cancer ceU.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the colorectal cancer ceU is an adenocarcinoma ceU.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the Uver cancer ceU is a hepatocellular carcinoma ceU.

6. The method of claim 2, said siRNA is specific for a ZNFN3A1 target selected from the group consisting of nucleotides 451-471, 532-552, 623-643, 625-645, 636- 656,726-746, 923-943, 1065-1085, and 1258-1278 of SEQ ID NO:l.

7. The method of claim 6, said siRNA has the general formula 5'-[A]-[B]-[A']-3' , wherein [A] is a ribonucleotide sequence coresponding to a sequence selected from the group consisting of nucleotides 451-471, 532-552, 623-643, 625-645, 636- 656,726-746, 923-943, 1065-1085, and 1258-1278 of SEQ ID NO:l, [B] is a ribonucleotide sequence consisting of 3 to 23 nucleotides, and

[A'] is a ribonucleotide sequence consisting of the complementary sequence of [A].

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises a transfection- enhancing agent.

9. An isolated polynucleotide comprising a combination of a sense strand nucleic acid and an antisense strand nucleic acid, wherein said sense strand nucleic acid comprises nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of nucleotides

451-471, 532-552, 623-643, 625-645, 636-656,726-746, 923-943, 1065-1085, and 1258-1278 of SEQ ED NO:l, and said antisense strand nucleic acid consists of complementary sequence thereof, respectivery.

10. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 9, wherein said sense strand nucleic acid and antisense strand nucleic acid are on the same strand.

11. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 9, wherein said sense strand nucleic acid consists of a nucleotide sequence shorter than about 100 nucleotides.

12. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 11, wherein said sense strand nucleic acid is shorter than about 75 nucleotides.

13. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 12, wherein said sense strand nucleic acid is shorter than about 50 nucleotides.

14. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 13, wherein said sense strand nucleic acid is shorter than about 25 nucleotides.

15. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 14, wherein said sense strand nucleic acid is between about 19 and about 25 nucleotides in length.

16. A vector comprising a polynucleotide comprising a combination of a sense strand nucleic acid and an antisense strand nucleic acid, wherein said sense strand nucleic acid comprises nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of nucleotides 451-471, 532-552, 623-643, 625-645, 636-656,726-746, 923-943, 1065-1085, and 1258-1278 of SEQ ID NO:l, and said antisense strand nucleic acid consists of complementary sequence thereof, respectivery.

17. The vector of claim 16, wherein said polynucleotide has the general formula 5'- [A]-[B]-[A']-3', wherein [A] is a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of nucleotides 451-471, 532-552, 623-643, 625-645, 636-656,726-746,

923-943, 1065-1085, and 1258-1278 of SEQ ED NO:l,

[B] is a nucleotide sequence consisting of 3 to 23 nucleotides, and

[A'] is a nucleotide sequence consisting of the complementary sequence of [A].

18. A composition comprising at least one siRNA comprising a combination of a sense strand nucleic acid and an antisense strand nucleic acid, wherein said sense strand nucleic acid comprises ribonucleotide sequence coresponding to a sequence selected from the group consisting of nucleotides 451-471, 532-552, 623-643, 625- 645, 636-656,726-746, 923-943, 1065-1085, and 1258-1278 of SEQ ED NO:l, and said antisense strand sequence consists of complementary sequence thereof, respectivery.

19. A double- tranded molecule comprising a sense strand and an antisense strand, wherein the sense strand comprises a ribonucleotide sequence corresponding to a ZNFN3A1 target sequence, and wherein the antisense strand comprises a ribonucleotide sequence which is complementary to said sense strand, wherein said sense strand and said antisense strand hybridize to each other to form said double-stranded molecule, and wherein said double- stranded molecule, when introduced into a ceU expressing the ZNFN3A1 gene, inhibits expression of said gene.

20. The double-stranded molecule of claim 19, wherein said ZNFN3A1 target sequence comprises at least about 10 contiguous nucleotides from SEQ ID No:l.

21. The double- stranded molecule of claim 20, wherein said ZNFN3 Al target sequence comprises from about 19 to about 25 contiguous nucleotides from SEQ ED No:l.

22. The double- stranded molecule of claim 21, wherein said ZNFN3A1 target sequence is selected from the group consisting of nucleotides 451-471, 532-552, 623-643, 625-645, 636-656,726-746, 923-943, 1065-1085, and 1258-1278 of SEQ ED NO:l.

23. The double-stranded molecule of claim 19, wherein a single ribonucleotide transcript comprises the sense strand and the antisense strand, said double- stranded molecule further comprising a single- stranded ribonucleotide sequence linking said sense strand and said antisense strand.

24. The double- stranded molecule of claim 19, wherein the double stranded molecule is an oUgonucleotide of less than about 100 nucleotides in length.

25. The double- stranded molecule of claim 24, wherein the double stranded molecule is an oUgonucleotide of less than about 75 nucleotides in length.

26. The double- stranded molecule of claim25, vherein the double stranded molecule is an oUgonucleotide of less than about 50 nucleotides in length.

27. The double-stranded molecule of claim 26, wherein the double stranded molecule is an oUgonucleotide of less than about 25 nucleotides in length.

28. The double- stranded polynucleotide of claim 27, wherein the double stranded molecule is an oUgonucleotide of between about 19 and about 25 nucleotides in length.

29. A vector encoding the double- stranded molecule of claim 19.

30. The vector of claim 29, wherein the vector encodes a transcript having a secondary structure, wherein the transcript comprises the sense strand and the antisense strand.

31. The vector of claim 30, wherein the transcript further comprises a single-stranded ribonucleotide sequence Unking said sense strand and said antisense strand.

32. A method to inhibit expression of the ZNFN3A1 gene in a ceU of a biological sample, the method comprising introduction of a ribonucleic acid (RNA) into the ceU in an amount sufficient to inhibit expression of the ZNFN3A1 gene, wherein the RNA is a double-stranded molecule comprising a sense strand and a antisense strand, wherein the sense strand comprises a ribonucleotide sequence corresponding to a ZNFN3A1 target sequence, and wherein the antisense strand comprises a ribonucleotide sequence which is complementary to said sense strand, wherein the sense and the antisense ribonucleotide strands hybridize to each other to form said double- stranded molecule, and wherein said double-stranded molecule, when introduced into a ceU expressing the ZNFN3A1 gene, inhibits expression of said gene.