The present invention is directed to novel nucleic acid molecules and
methods for their use. More specifically, the novel nucleic acid
molecules of the present invention are capable of tightly and
specifically interacting with a target molecule of interest not only
through standard Watson-Crick base pairing, but also through additional
features which allow the antisense molecules to become topologically
"locked" onto the target nucleic acid, thereby imparting improved
transcription and translation inhibitory properties.