Regulating RNA interference by modifying RNA backbone with amides

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Professor Rozners and his team use nucleic acid chemistry to improve RNA-based technologies, modifying RNA backbone with amides

Professor Eriks Rozners and colleagues at Binghamton University in New York, USA, are using innovative nucleic acid chemistry to modify RNA-based technologies such as RNA interference (RNAi) and Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) to enhance their utility in molecular biology. These technologies suffer from off-target effects that limit their clinical utility. By replacing phosphates in the backbone with […]

The flipside of DNA: Flipons and alternative nucleic acid structures

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Alan Herbert investigates how conserved microRNAs and flipons shape gene expression during development by altering promoter conformations.

DNA sequences called flipons can adopt alternative DNA structures. New research suggests that they have important biological roles. In a quest to further unravel the mystery of these dynamic DNA elements, Dr Alan Herbert, InsideOutBio Inc, USA, and colleagues have spent years conducting experiments at the cutting edge of genomic and molecular science. Now, they demonstrate that by targeting flipons, […]

To edit or not to edit: Changes in microRNAs are associated with asthma severity

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Dr Kevin Magnaye researched changes in airway cells in people with asthma, discovering that editing microRNAs has an impact on inflammation and immune responses that could lead to severe asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the airways. While many people respond to inhaled medications, this treatment is not effective for everyone. Understanding more about the molecular pathways that promote severe asthma may provide opportunity for new therapeutic approaches. Dr Kevin M Magnaye, while a graduate student with Professor Carole Ober at the University of Chicago, explored changes in […]