New Findings Revolutionize Concepts of Gene Function Endogenous small RNAs have been found in various organisms, including humans, mice, flies, worms, fungi, and bacteria. Furthermore, it's been shown that microRNAs acting as cellular rheostats have the ability to modulate gene expression. In higher eukaryotes, microRNAs may regulate as much as 50 percent of gene expression. Regulation of Gene Expression by Small RNAs brings together the pioneering work of researchers who discuss their work involving a wide variety of small RNA regulatory pathways in organisms ranging from bacteria to humans. In addition to exploring the biogenesis and processing of these regulatory RNAs, they also consider the functional importance of these pathways in host organisms. Assisting current and future researchers, this unique groundbreaking work - Provides a suite of cutting-edge resources for the study of microRNA ontology and function Includes a technology guide for those seeking to assay microRNA expression Explores the mechanisms by which microRNAs regulate gene expression in animal cells, including the regulation of gene expression by RNA-mediated transcriptional gene silencing Discusses a fast and low-cost approach for reversing genetic influences in mammals Looks at breakthroughs in the use of microRNA-based therapy for HIV and cancer This volume captures the essence of the breadth and excitement surrounding the newly discovered regulatory roles of small RNAs. The powerful new approach in the study of gene function described in this text is leading to some remarkable findings that have the potential to revolutionize our understanding of genetic function and the treatment of diseases otherwise considered intractable.

New Findings Revolutionize Concepts of Gene Function

Endogenous small RNAs have been found in various organisms, including humans, mice, flies, worms, fungi, and bacteria. Furthermore, it 's been shown that microRNAs acting as cellular rheostats have the ability to modulate gene expression. In higher eukaryotes, microRNAs may regulate as much as 50 percent of gene expression.

Regulation of Gene Expression by Small RNAs brings together the pioneering work of researchers who discuss their work involving a wide variety of small RNA regulatory pathways in organisms ranging from bacteria to humans. In addition to exploring the biogenesis and processing of these regulatory RNAs, they also consider the functional importance of these pathways in host organisms. Assisting current and future researchers, this unique groundbreaking work

• Provides a suite of cutting-edge resources for the study of microRNA ontology and function
• Includes a technology guide for those seeking to assay microRNA expression
• Explores the mechanisms by which microRNAs regulate gene expression in animal cells, including the regulation of gene expression by RNA-mediated transcriptional gene silencing
• Discusses a fast and low-cost approach for reversing genetic influences in mammals
• Looks at breakthroughs in the use of microRNA-based therapy for HIV and cancer

This volume captures the essence of the breadth and excitement surrounding the newly discovered regulatory roles of small RNAs. The powerful new approach in the study of gene function described in this text is leading to some remarkable findings that have the potential to revolutionize our understanding of genetic function and the treatment of diseases otherwise considered intractable.

RNA Therapeutics: The Evolving Landscape of RNA Therapeutics provides a comprehensive overview of RNA therapeutic modalities, from bench-to-bedside, with an emphasis on the increasingly impactful areas of gene therapy, oligonucleotide therapeutics, gene editing and delivery. International leaders in the field examine RNA-based therapeutics tools that have been developed to-date to modulate cellular processes such as transcription, translation and protein function. Approved RNA-based therapies and lessons learned from failed therapies are discussed in-depth, as are evolving advances in RNA biochemical analysis, and similar advances that are enabling clinical application of RNA-based therapies. Later sections discuss delivery technologies, remaining hurdles in research and translation, the therapy development process from the lab to the clinic, and novel RNA-based therapies currently in development.

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are tiny bits of genetic material that were unknown nearly 10 years ago but now represent an exciting field of study in biology. Upon their discovery, researchers revealed for the first time a new mechanism by which microRNA can stop the function of messenger RNA (mRNA) by literally cutting it in half, interfering with the normal function of specific messenger RNAs in gene expression.
This "expression" of genes that code for essential proteins is essentially what controls whether a cell turns into a liver, lung, or brain cell, for example. Understanding what activates this process - or stops it - is a key to understanding the biological process and builds a foundation for advances in medicine and other fields. This volume in Methods in Enzymology presents valuable methods for studying MicroRNA, with three sections covering identification of MicroRNAs and their targets; MicroRNA expression, maturation and functional analysis; and MicroRNAs and disease.