Compositions comprising alternating 2'-modified nucleosides for use in gene modulation

Abstract

The present invention provides compositions comprising at least one oligomeric compound comprising an alternating motif and further include a region that is complementary to a nucleic acid target. The compositions are useful for targeting selected nucleic acid molecules and modulating the expression of one or more genes. In preferred embodiments the compositions of the present invention hybridize to a portion of a target RNA resulting in loss of normal function of the target RNA. The present invention also provides methods for modulating gene expression.

1 . An oligomeric compound comprising:
 a plurality of nucleosides linked together in a sequence;   said sequence comprising at least nucleosides of a first type (F) and nucleosides of a second type (S);   said first and said second types of nucleosides differing in at least one aspect from one another in that they have different 2′-substituent groups; and   when said 2′-substituent groups of said first and said second types of nucleosides are other than H or OH then said oligomeric compound includes at least two nucleosides of said first type and at least one nucleoside of said second type wherein said nucleosides of said first type and said nucleosides of said second type are located with respect to one another such that said sequence includes at least one FSF motif; or   when the 2′-substituent group of one of said first or said second type of nucleoside is H or OH then said oligomeric compound includes at least three nucleosides of said first type and at least three nucleosides of said second type and said nucleosides of said first type and said nucleosides of said second type are located with respect to one another such that said sequence includes at least one FSFSFS motif.   
     
     
         2 .- 105 . (canceled)