drug targets

miRNAs’ Therapeutic Potential

by Chris on March 31, 2010

10-06GEN_Mar15_01a-31Scientists Scrutinize Promising Molecules as Potential Drug Targets and Biomarkers

Genetic Engineering News – Patricia F. Dimond, Ph.D.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) finely regulate gene expression and play an important role in various cellular processes, including cell growth, differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. To date, more than 5,000 of these endogenous, noncoding single-stranded RNAs have been identified. miRNAs act through binding to complementary mRNA sequences, thereby preventing their translation into protein or accelerating mRNA breakdown. Investigators are working on exploiting these molecules for experimental and potential therapeutic applications. (read more)

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