MicroRNA News and Research

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In genetics, microRNAs (miRNA) are single-stranded RNA molecules of 21-23 nucleotides in length, which regulate gene expression. miRNAs are encoded by genes from whose DNA they are transcribed but miRNAs are not translated into protein (i.e. they are non-coding RNAs); instead each primary transcript (a pri-miRNA) is processed into a short stem-loop structure called a pre-miRNA and finally into a functional miRNA. Mature miRNA molecules are partially complementary to one or more messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules, and their main function is to down-regulate gene expression.

Alnylam presents new pre-clinical data with ALN-AT3 for treatment of hemophilia and RBD

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that it has presented new pre-clinical data with ALN-AT3, a subcutaneously administered RNAi therapeutic targeting antithrombin (AT) for the treatment of hemophilia and rare bleeding disorders (RBD), at the 55th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) held December 7 - 10, 2013 in New Orleans.

10 Dec 2013

Study reveals that germ-free mice are susceptible to infection with foodborne pathogen

When it comes to fighting off pathogens like Listeria, your best allies may be the billions of microorganisms that line your gut, according to new research published in mBio-, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology.

10 Dec 2013

Cyclin D1 protein controls cell cycle progression, microRNA biogenesis in breast cancer

Cyclin D1, a protein that helps push a replicating cell through the cell cycle also mediates the processing and generation of mature microRNA, according to new research publishing November 29 in Nature Communications. The research suggests that a protein strongly implicated in human cancer also governs the non-protein-coding genome. The non-coding genome, previously referred to as junk DNA, makes up most of the human genome, and unlike the coding genome, varies greatly between species.

29 Nov 2013

Researchers successfully target T lymphocytes which play key role in body's immune response

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have successfully targeted T lymphocytes - which play a central role in the body's immune response - with another type of white blood cell engineered to synthesize and deliver bits of non-coding RNA or microRNA (miRNA).

26 Nov 2013

Findings may help scientists better understand prognosis of advanced prostate cancer

Many patients diagnosed with prostate cancer have indolent, slow-growing forms of the disease that are not life-threatening. However, more than 30,000 American men will die from aggressive prostate cancer this year alone. This sharp contrast between low-risk and aggressive disease presents a challenge for many researchers and physicians as they diagnose patients and also determine the prognosis of the men with the most aggressive forms of prostate cancer.

19 Nov 2013

Cardiovascular Institute researchers to showcase 22 abstracts at upcoming AHA Scientific Sessions

Researchers from the Cardiovascular Institute at Rhode Island, The Miriam and Newport hospitals will present 22 abstracts, both poster and oral presentations, at the upcoming American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, to be held in Dallas November 16-20, 2013. Scientific Sessions is the foremost cardiovascular research meeting in the U.S., with more than 18,000 cardiovascular experts from more than 105 countries in attendance.

16 Nov 2013

African American men have higher risk of developing prostate cancer than European American men

African American men have a 60 percent higher risk of developing prostate cancer than European American men, and a 2.4 times higher risk of dying from the disease. Some of the reasons can be attributed to differences in screening practices and treatment, but further research is needed to determine more explicit explanations.

14 Nov 2013

Research provides new understanding of the effects of race on heart disease

Thomas Jefferson University researchers have discovered that the formation of blood clots follows a different molecular route in African Americans versus European Americans, providing a new understanding of the effects of race on heart disease. The finding could one day help doctors provide more individualized treatment of heart disease and other blood-clot-related illnesses, according to research publishing online November 10th in Nature Medicine.

11 Nov 2013

FOXO3 transcription factor may protect against alcohol-induced liver injury

New data suggest that the transcription factor FOXO3 may protect against alcohol-induced liver injury. Researchers determined that alcohol given to mice deficient in FOXO3 caused severe liver injury resembling human alcoholic hepatitis.

11 Nov 2013

RNA molecule present in the blood could someday be a diagnostic marker for pancreatic cancer

An Indiana University cancer researcher has demonstrated that a particular molecule is present in the blood of most pancreatic cancer patients, suggesting it could someday be a diagnostic marker for the disease.

8 Nov 2013

Researchers identify factor that promotes metastasis of colon tumors

Tumors become highly malignant when they acquire the ability to colonize other tissues and form metastases. Researchers at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich have identified a factor that promotes metastasis of colon tumors - and presents a possible target for therapy.

5 Nov 2013

LMU researchers identify a factor that promotes metastasis of colon tumors

Tumors become highly malignant when they acquire the ability to colonize other tissues and form metastases. Researchers at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet in Munich have identified a factor that promotes metastasis of colon tumors - and presents a possible target for therapy.

4 Nov 2013

Blood levels of microRNAs may serve as diagnostic tool for thyroid cancer, but more research needed

A new analysis has found that the presence of short segments of genetic material (known as microRNA) within papillary thyroid cancer tumors suggests a likelihood of recurrence after patients undergo surgery.

29 Oct 2013

Rice University research reveals 3-way genetic switch for cancer metastasis

Cancer researchers from Rice University have deciphered the operating principles of a genetic switch that cancer cells use to decide when to metastasize and invade other parts of the body. The study found that the on-off switch's dynamics also allows a third choice that lies somewhere between "on" and "off." The extra setting both explains previously confusing experimental results and opens the door to new avenues of cancer treatment.

25 Oct 2013

Promising technique for treating eye disease proves effective in preclinical studies

A promising technique for treating human eye disease has proven effective in preclinical studies and may lead to new treatments to prevent blindness, according to experiments conducted at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California.

23 Oct 2013

Study shows how two miRNAs regulate FOXP2 gene implicated in speech, language impairments

A study led by Xiaoching Li, PhD, at the LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans Neuroscience Center of Excellence, has shown for the first time how two tiny molecules regulate a gene implicated in speech and language impairments as well as autism disorders, and that social context of vocal behavior governs their function.

18 Oct 2013

Imaxio Sells Genomics Division To Hybrigenics

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16 Oct 2013

Alnylam advances Development Candidate for ALN-AS1 for treatment of hepatic porphyrias

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALNY), a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that it is advancing its Development Candidate for ALN-AS1, an RNAi therapeutic targeting aminolevulinate synthase-1 (ALAS-1) for the treatment of hepatic porphyrias including acute intermittent porphyria (AIP).

9 Oct 2013

Researchers who contributed to field of medicine receive Keio Medical Science Prize

The 18th Keio Medical Science Prize has been awarded to Victor R. Ambros, PhD, professor of molecular medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and the Silverman Chair in Natural Science; and Shigekazu Nagata, PhD, professor of medical chemistry in the Graduate School of Medicine at Kyoto University.

8 Oct 2013

Smoking during pregnancy may affect child’s immune system on molecular level

The Leipzig Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research has gained new insights on the influence of tobacco smoke in utero. For the first time, it could be demonstrated with smoking pregnant women and their children, how exposure to tobacco smoke affects the development of human immune system on molecular level.

8 Oct 2013

MicroRNA News and Research

Further Reading

Alnylam presents new pre-clinical data with ALN-AT3 for treatment of hemophilia and RBD

Study reveals that germ-free mice are susceptible to infection with foodborne pathogen

Cyclin D1 protein controls cell cycle progression, microRNA biogenesis in breast cancer

Researchers successfully target T lymphocytes which play key role in body's immune response

Findings may help scientists better understand prognosis of advanced prostate cancer

Cardiovascular Institute researchers to showcase 22 abstracts at upcoming AHA Scientific Sessions

African American men have higher risk of developing prostate cancer than European American men

Research provides new understanding of the effects of race on heart disease

FOXO3 transcription factor may protect against alcohol-induced liver injury

RNA molecule present in the blood could someday be a diagnostic marker for pancreatic cancer

Researchers identify factor that promotes metastasis of colon tumors

LMU researchers identify a factor that promotes metastasis of colon tumors

Blood levels of microRNAs may serve as diagnostic tool for thyroid cancer, but more research needed

Rice University research reveals 3-way genetic switch for cancer metastasis

Promising technique for treating eye disease proves effective in preclinical studies

Study shows how two miRNAs regulate FOXP2 gene implicated in speech, language impairments

Imaxio Sells Genomics Division To Hybrigenics

Alnylam advances Development Candidate for ALN-AS1 for treatment of hepatic porphyrias

Researchers who contributed to field of medicine receive Keio Medical Science Prize

Smoking during pregnancy may affect child’s immune system on molecular level

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