Current Pharmacogenomics - Volume 2, Issue 4, 2004

RNA interference (RNAi) is a phenomenon that has been observed in many species and causes posttranscriptional gene silencing. RNAi targets specific mRNAs for destruction, causing an active gene to be downregulated and in some cases to be knocked out completely in its expression. RNAi technology begins with the introduction of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into cells, which initiates a chain reaction of events that e Read More

Detection of unknown mutations is a key for success in diagnosis, treatment and therapy of many genetic diseases. Use of chemicals has been practiced for many years to probe the structural changes of DNA induced by a single base mismatch. This paper will review the current chemicals, such as carbodiimides, alkyl halides, aldehydes, oxidants, oxyamines, intercalators and groove binders, which have established the foun Read More

Xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes (XME) are responsible for the biotransformation of a vast range of compounds. Arylamine N-acetyltransferases (NAT) are XME responsible for the acetylation of many arylamine and heterocyclic amines. They therefore, play an important role in the detoxification and activation of numerous drugs and carcinogens. Two closely related isoforms (NAT1 and NAT2) have been described in Read More

Retinitis pigmentosa is a group of retinodegenerative diseases caused by mutations or deletions in over one hundred different genes. These mutations ultimately lead to blindness of those affected by the disease. A number of therapeutic approaches are currently under study and these are primarily directed to block or, if possible, to revert the effects of the mutations that cause photoreceptor cell apoptosis. A therapy th Read More

Bronchial asthma is a complicated and diverse disorder affected by genetic and environmental factors. It is widely accepted that it is a Th2-type inflammation originating in lung and caused by inhalation of ubiquitous allergens. The complicated and diverse pathogenesis of this disease is yet to be clarified. Functional genomics is the analysis of whole gene expression profiling under given condition, and microarray technology is Read More

This review argues that the epigenome, which plays a critical role in controlling gene expression, plays also an important role in drug responsiveness. The epigenome is composed of chromatin and its modifications and DNA methylation. DNA methylation and chromatin structure are dynamic and tightly linked. Alterations in DNA methylation are involved in the pathology of cancer and in normal aging. It is suggeste Read More

Mitochondria are important targets of steroid hormone action. The receptors for steroid hormones, including estrogen, thyroxine and glucocorticoid, are present in the mitochondria, while steroid hormone responsive elements are also found in the mitochondrial genome. The presence of the steroid hormone receptors in the mitochondria, transport of ligands to the mitochondria, sequences of hormone respon Read More