Messenger RNA (mRNA) News and Research

RSS

Tiny Locked Nucleic Acid-based compounds inhibit entire disease-associated microRNA families

A study published online in this week's Nature Genetics demonstrates that tiny Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA)-based compounds developed by Santaris Pharma A/S can inhibit entire disease-associated microRNA families. This provides a potential new approach for treating a variety of diseases including cancer, viral infections, cardiovascular and muscle diseases.

21 Mar 2011

Researcher to present study on validation of salivary-biomarkers for pSS patients

Saturday, March 19, during the 89th General Session & Exhibition of the International Association for Dental Research, held in conjunction with the 40th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental Research and the 35th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research, lead researcher A.N.M. Nazmul-Hossaini will hold an oral presentation on a study titled "Validation of Salivary-Biomarkers for Sj-gren's Syndrome Detection in US Population."

19 Mar 2011

Modified mRNA raises hope for safe and effective cancer drugs

Modern gene therapies raise hopes of combating many diseases until now considered terminal. Nowadays, however, the methods are expensive and carry a risk of severe complications.

18 Mar 2011

Ingenuity announces new features to support RNA-Seq workflows, microRNA research in IPA

Ingenuity Systems, a leading provider of information and analytics solutions for life science researchers, today announced new features to support RNA-Sequencing workflows and microRNA research in IPA.

15 Mar 2011

Elevated p21 expression may block key steps in viral life cycle

Elevated levels of p21, a protein best known as a cancer fighter, may be involved in the ability of a few individuals to control HIV infection with their immune system alone.

15 Mar 2011

New technique may find 'hidden' receptors in nerve cells

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute and University of Pennsylvania have found a way to uncover potential drug targets that have so far remained hidden from researchers' view.

11 Mar 2011

Scientists detail role of TDP-43 in ALS pathology

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as ALS or more popularly, Lou Gehrig's disease, is a notorious neurodegenerative condition characterized by the progressive deterioration of brain and spinal cord neurons, resulting in the gradual but catastrophic loss of muscle control and ultimately, death.

5 Mar 2011

New study finds liver instead of the brain as source of Alzheimer’s plaques

Unexpected results from a Scripps Research Institute and ModGene, LLC study could completely alter scientists' ideas about Alzheimer's disease—pointing to the liver instead of the brain as the source of the "amyloid" that deposits as brain plaques associated with this devastating condition. The findings could offer a relatively simple approach for Alzheimer's prevention and treatment.

4 Mar 2011

Viruses that are natural part of human genome may retrovirus culprit

A retrovirus that inserted itself into the human genome thousands of years ago may be responsible for some cases of the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gherig’s disease. The finding, made by Johns Hopkins scientists, may eventually give researchers a new way to attack this universally fatal condition.

2 Mar 2011

ADC announces RNAscope technology clinical study results for HPV-associated head and neck cancers

Advanced Cell Diagnostics, Inc. today announced the results of its clinical study utilizing RNAscope technology to detect human papillomavirus E6/E7 mRNA in routine clinical specimens of head and neck cancer.

From Advanced Cell Diagnostics 1 Mar 2011

Santaris licenses miR-33 from MGH to treat cardiovascular disorders

Santaris Pharma A/S, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the research and development of mRNA and microRNA targeted therapies, today announced that the Company has obtained an exclusive license from Massachusetts General Hospital for intellectual property related to the regulation of miR-33 for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders.

1 Mar 2011

New study suggests variation in PCLO gene can contribute to risk of bipolar disorder

Understanding the genetics of bipolar disorder could lead to new treatments, but identifying specific genetic variations associated with this disorder has been challenging.

24 Feb 2011

New method may eliminate colonoscopies

Nobody enjoys colonoscopies, including mice. University of Missouri researchers are excited about the potential of using genetic biomarkers to predict colon cancer caused by inflammation. A new method developed at the MU Research Animal Diagnostic Laboratory (RADIL) could eventually lead to a method that might eliminate colonoscopies altogether.

17 Feb 2011

Study sheds new light on riboswitch that turns genes on or off in response to cell's energy needs

Scientists from The Scripps Research Institute have shed new light on a molecular switch that turns genes on or off in response to a cell's energy needs.

13 Feb 2011

Munich research team provides promising alternative to DNA-based procedures

Defects in the genome are the cause of many diseases. Gene therapy - direct replacement of mutant genes by intact DNA copies - offers a means of correcting such defects. Now a research team based at the Medical Center of the University of Munich, and led by Privatdozent Dr. Carsten Rudolph, has taken a new approach that avoids DNA delivery.

8 Feb 2011

New England Biolabs expands line of reagents for sample preparation

New England Biolabs has expanded its line of reagents for sample preparation upstream of next generation sequencing to include NEBNext® Small RNA Sample Prep Set 1 for sequencing on the Illumina® platforms, and NEBNext Small RNA Sample Prep Set 3 for sequencing on LIFE's SOLiD™ platform. These new products offer a new and unique protocol, which results in higher yields and lower adaptor-dimer formation, as compared to other protocols.

From New England Biolabs 3 Feb 2011

Scientists challenged to sequence genome and RNA content derived from single cancer cell

Life Technologies Corporation today announced that the Life Grand Challenges Contest, initially introduced in December 2010, is expanding to include a fourth challenge. This latest contest challenges scientists to sequence the genome and all RNA content derived from a single cancer cell using the 5500 Series SOLiD™ Sequencers.

3 Feb 2011

NuGEN expands NGS utility for microbial transcriptome analysis with Ovation Prokaryotic RNA-Seq System

NuGEN Technologies, a leader in genomics sample preparation, expands the utility of next-generation sequencing for the analysis of microbial species and microbiome samples with its Ovation Prokaryotic RNA-Seq System.

27 Jan 2011

Researchers develop anti-HIV gene therapy for rendering T-cells resistant to infection

An innovative genetic strategy for rendering T-cells resistant to HIV infection without affecting their normal growth and activity is described in a paper published in Human Gene Therapy, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. The paper is available free online.

26 Jan 2011

Arrowhead increases ownership in Calando's outstanding equity to 79%

Arrowhead Research Corporation today announced that it has invested $1 million in its majority owned subsidiary, Calando Pharmaceuticals, and converted approximately $8M of Calando debt to Arrowhead into equity. Arrowhead now owns approximately 79% of Calando's outstanding equity.

19 Jan 2011