Small Activating RNAs: Towards Development of New Therapeutic Agents and Clinical Treatments

Title:Small Activating RNAs: Towards Development of New Therapeutic Agents and Clinical Treatments

Volume: 19 Issue: 8

Author(s): Sen-Mao Li and Jia Hu*

Affiliation:

• Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030,China

Keywords: RNAa, targeted gene overexpression, dsRNAs, argonaute, epigenetic information systems, clinical therapy.

Abstract: Background: Small double-strand RNAs (dsRNAs) molecules are able to activate endogenous genes via an RNA-based promoter-targeting mechanism. Like RNA interference (RNAi), RNA activation (RNAa) is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism that is present in diverse eukaryotic organisms ranging from yeast to humans.

Methods: The small activating RNAs (saRNAs) that are involved in RNAa have been successively used to activate gene expression in cultured cells. Thus, this emergent technique might allow us to develop biotechnological and therapeutic applications without the need to synthesize hazardous construct systems that harbor exogenous DNA sequences.

Result and Conclusion: Accordingly, this article aims to provide insights into how RNAa cellular machinery can be manipulated to activate gene expression and for more effective clinical treatments of diverse diseases.

Cite this article as:

Li Sen-Mao and Hu Jia *, Small Activating RNAs: Towards Development of New Therapeutic Agents and Clinical Treatments, Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology 2018; 19 (8) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389201019666180802145134