Current Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 20, Issue 29, 2013

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an evolutionarily conserved class of small regulatory RNAs that modulate gene expression. Extensive research over the last decade has shown that miRNAs are master regulators of cellular processes, with an essential role in cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. Widespread deregulation of miRNAs in cancers has identified oncogenic and tumor-suppressive roles for these miRNAs. On t Read More

MicroRNA (miRNA) is an important type of non-coding RNAs with both physiological and pathological functions in human beings. Aberrant expression of miRNAs has been found in tumor tissues and the expression profile of certain groups of miRNAs is now emerging as bio-marker for cancer. It has been confirmed that miRNAs can exert oncogenic or tumor-suppressive functions through repressing the expression of th Read More

Once considered genetic “oddities”, microRNAs (miRNAs) are now recognized as key epigenetic regulators of numerous biological processes, including some with a causal link to the pathogenesis, maintenance, and treatment of cancer. The crux of small RNA-based therapeutics lies in the antagonism of potent cellular targets; the main shortcoming of the field in general, lies in ineffective delivery. Inhibition of oncogenic mi Read More

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are single-stranded non-coding RNAs of ~22 nucleotides, which can negatively regulate gene expression through induction of mRNA degradation and/or post-transcriptional gene silencing. MiRNAs are key factors in the regulation of many biological processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and death. Since miRNAs are known to be in close association with cancer development, non-invasive imagi Read More

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are single-stranded non-coding RNAs with the ability to regulate gene expression at post-transcriptional level. Typically, miRNAs function by binding to the 3’ untranslated regions (UTR) of target mRNAs, leading to the degradation or repressed expression of target genes. It is estimated that miRNAs are involved in almost every genetic pathway and the regulation of miRNAs plays important roles in p Read More

Non-coding RNAs, especially microRNAs (miRNAs), have been recently found to play a major role in the post-transcriptional regulation of both development and dysfunction of the cardiovascular system. Mechanistically, the induction or repression of miRNAs occurring in cardiovascular dysfunction triggers downstream cardiac events in a celltype- specific manner. More importantly, the endogenous microRNAs’ disturban Read More

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNA transcripts that modulate gene expression and translation through target mRNA destabilization and/or inhibition of protein synthesis. Various studies have aimed at elucidation of the role of these small molecules in the regulation of disease activity. Initially, microRNA were believed to merely act as intracellular mediators fine-tuning mRNA translation into proteins. Recently, the first s Read More

The most abundant microRNA (miRNA) in the liver, miR-122, is regulated by specific, liver-enriched transcription factors and is responsible for proper proliferation and differentiation of hepatocytes and for the regulation of lipid and cholesterol metabolisms. miR-122 is also involved in several hepatic disorders, as downregulation of miR-122 is often associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and miR-122 is a requir Read More

Methods for the chemical synthesis of RNA have been available for almost half century, and presently, RNA could be chemically synthesized by automated synthesizers, using protected ribonucleosides preactivated as phosphoramidites, which has already been covered by many reviews. In addition to advancement on synthetic methods, a variety of modifications have also been made on the synthesized oligonucleotides, an Read More

RNA aptamers are non-coding small RNAs that bind to their cognate targets with high specificity and affinity. They are generally identified by iterative rounds of in vitro selection termed SELEX (Systemic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment). Similar to antibodies, they can inhibit, modulate and disrupt the functions of target proteins effectively, making them promising therapeutic agents for the treatment of Read More

The discovery of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and their potential to knock down virtually any gene of interest has ushered in a new era of RNA interference (RNAi). Clinical use of RNAi faces severe limitations due to inefficiency delivery of siRNA or short hairpin RNA (shRNA). Many molecular imaging techniques have been adopted in RNAi-related research for evaluation of siRNA/shRNA delivery, biodistribution, pharmacokineti Read More