GNAQ targeted dsRNA compositions and methods for inhibiting expression

1. An isolated double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting expression of a G-alpha q subunit (GNAQ) of a heterotrimeric G gene, comprising a sense strand consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1445 and an antisense strand comprising consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1446.

2. The dsRNA of claim 1 , comprising a modification that causes the dsRNA to have increased stability in a biological sample.

3. The dsRNA of claim 1 , comprising at least one modified nucleotide.

4. The dsRNA of claim 3 , wherein said modified nucleotide is selected from the group of: a 2′-O-methyl modified nucleotide, a nucleotide comprising a 5′-phosphorothioate group, a terminal nucleotide linked to a cholesteryl derivative or dodecanoic acid bisdecylamide group, a 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro modified nucleotide, a 2′-deoxy-modified nucleotide, a locked nucleotide, an abasic nucleotide, a 2′-amino-modified nucleotide, a 2′-alkyl -modified nucleotide, a morpholino nucleotide, a phosphoramidate, and a non-natural base comprising nucleotide.

5. The dsRNA of claim 3 , comprising at least one 2′-O-methyl modified nucleotide and at least one 2′-deoxythymidine-3′-phosphate nucleotide comprising a 5′-phosphorothioate group.

6. The dsRNA of claim 1 , further comprising a ligand.

7. The dsRNA of claim 1 , further comprising a ligand conjugated to the 3′-end of the sense strand of the dsRNA.

8. A composition for inhibiting expression of a GNAQ gene comprising the dsRNA of claim 1 and a pharmaceutical formulation.

9. The composition of claim 8 , wherein the pharmaceutical formulation is a lipid formulation.

10. The composition of claim 8 , wherein the pharmaceutical formulation is a (6Z,9Z,28Z,31Z)-heptatriaconta-6,9,28,31-tetraen-19-yl 4-(dimethylamino)butanoate (MC3) comprising formulation.

11. An isolated cell containing the dsRNA of claim 1 .

12. A vector comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes at least one strand of the dsRNA of claim 1 .

13. The dsRNA of claim 1 , wherein said dsRNA, upon contact with a cell expressing said GNAQ, inhibits expression of said GNAQ gene by at least 40% compared to a cell not so contacted.

14. The dsRNA of claim 1 , wherein the dsRNA has an IC50 of less than 10 pM.

15. A method of inhibiting GNAQ expression in a cell, the method comprising:

(a) introducing into the cell the dsRNA of claim 1 ; and

(b) maintaining the cell produced in step (a) for a time sufficient to obtain degradation of the mRNA transcript of a GNAQ gene, thereby inhibiting expression of the GNAQ gene in the cell.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein expression is inhibited by at least 20%, 40%, 60%, or at least 80%.

17. A method of treating a disorder mediated by GNAQ expression comprising administering to a human in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of the dsRNA of claim 1 .

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the human has uveal melanoma, cutaneous melanoma, Blue nevi, Nevi of Ota, a small lung tumor, or a neuroendocrine tumor.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising administering an additional composition.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising administering a second dsRNA.

21. The dsRNA of claim 1 , wherein each strand comprises a 3′ overhang consisting of dTdT.

22. The dsRNA of claim 1 , wherein the sense strand consists of SEQ ID NO: 1603 (ccuGGuGGGcuAuuGAAGAdTdT) and the antisense strand consists of SEQ ID NO: 1604 (UCUUcAAuAGCCcACcAGGdTdT) wherein each strand includes 2′-O-methyl ribonucleotides as indicated by a lower case letter “c” and “u”.

23. A method of inhibiting GNAQ expression in a cell, the method comprising:

(a) introducing into the cell the dsRNA of claim 22 ; and

(b) maintaining the cell produced in step (a) for a time sufficient to obtain degradation of the mRNA transcript of a GNAQ gene, thereby inhibiting expression of the GNAQ gene in the cell.

24. A method of treating a disorder mediated by GNAQ expression comprising administering to a human in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of the dsRNA of claim 22 .

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the human has uveal melanoma, cutaneous melanoma, Blue nevi, Nevi of Ota, a small lung tumor, or a neuroendocrine tumor.