MicroRNA

MicroRNAs are short single stranded RNAs of about 22 nucleotides that are processed from hairpin shaped pre-cursors and incorporated into the RNA Induced Silencing Complex (RISC). Once incorporated in RISC, microRNAs direct translational repression or degradation of target mRNAs.

Currently, about 500 human microRNAs have been identified and it is estimated that as many as 1000 human microRNAs may exist. It is believed that more than 30% of the human genes are subject to microRNA regulation. MicroRNAs typically bind to their targets with incomplete complementarity and this means that a given microRNA can target many different mRNAs, i.e. microRNAs are promiscuous.

The number of reports describing a role for microRNAs in disease is continuously increasing. MicroRNAs are e.g. implicated roles in cancer, immunological disease, cardiovascular disease and viral infection. Thus, interfering with microRNA activity provides a novel therapeutic approach.

Messenger RNA and proteins

Proteins are fundamental for all cellular processes and therefore proteins are a major target for therapeutic development. Indeed, many therapeutic compounds acts by direct binding to proteins to thereby affect the activity of the bound protein…Read More

Antisense targeting of mRNA

Designing an artificial antisense oligonucleotide that bind with high affinity and specificity to an mRNA is relatively easy. Therefore, it was early recognized that antisense oligonucleotides which bind to and affect mRNA activity might…Read More

MicroRNA

MicroRNAs are short single stranded RNAs of about 22 nucleotides that are processed from hairpin shaped pre-cursors and incorporated into the RNA Induced Silencing Complex (RISC). Once incorporated in RISC, microRNAs direct translational repression…Read More

Antisense targeting of microRNA

Therapeutic approaches targeting microRNA pathways have so far focused on inhibiting the activity of a particular microRNA by using antisense oligonucleotide directed to the microRNA (e.g. antimirs and antagomirs) or on microRNA replacement therapy…Read More