RNA News and Research

RSS

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a biologically important type of molecule that consists of a long chain of nucleotide units. Each nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous base, a ribose sugar, and a phosphate.

Nitto Denko announces acquisition of Avecia Biotechnology

Japan's leading diversified materials manufacturer, Nitto Denko Corporation, today announced that it has acquired Avecia Biotechnology, Inc. through Nitto Americas, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary in Teaneck, New Jersey.

3 Feb 2011

New England Journal publishes fidaxomicin Phase 3 trial results against CDI

Optimer Pharmaceuticals, announced The New England Journal of Medicine has published results from the North American Phase 3 trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of the Company's novel antibiotic fidaxomicin as a treatment for patients with Clostridium difficile infection.

3 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

Generation of iPSCs can be enhanced by modulating miRNA action

Stem cells are ideal tools to understand disease and develop new treatments; however, they can be difficult to obtain in necessary quantities. In particular, generating induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells can be an arduous task because reprogramming differentiated adult skin cells into iPS cells requires many steps and the efficiency is very low - researchers might end up with only a few iPS cells even if they started with a million skin cells.

3 Feb 2011

Automation protocols for TruSeq kits is now available in Sciclone NGS Workstation

Caliper Life Sciences, today announced that it has developed and optimized automation protocols on its Sciclone NGS Workstation for Illumina's TruSeq DNA and TruSeq RNA sample preparation kits.

3 Feb 2011

Agilent introduces first commercial RNA target enrichment system

Agilent Technologies, Inc., today introduced SureSelect RNA Capture Kits, the first commercial RNA target enrichment system enabling geneticists to focus on specific genomic loci or transcripts of research interest. The RNA capture kits make it possible to precisely measure expression levels of genes of interest and detect allelic-specific expression, splicing events and gene fusions.

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

Isis commences ISIS-FXIRx Phase 1 study for treatment of clotting disorders

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the initiation of a Phase 1 study of ISIS-FXIRx, an antisense drug designed to treat clotting disorders. ISIS-FXIRx inhibits the production of Factor XI, a clotting factor that is an important component of the coagulation pathway. Because of its role in the intrinsic coagulation pathway, inhibition of Factor XI could offer an effective approach for preventing the formation of blood clots with a lower risk of bleeding.

2 Feb 2011

Defective nucleoli linked to Parkinson's disease

"Nucleolus", or small nucleus, is the term coined by early biologists for the tiny structure within the nucleus which they saw under the microscope. In this structure within the nucleus, RNA molecules and proteins are assembled to form ribosomes, the true protein factories of cells.

2 Feb 2011

EA sponsors research grant to investigate specific cancers and kinase mutations

Expression Analysis today announced a jointly sponsored research grant for up to eight American Cancer Society Grantees to investigate and draw parallels between specific cancers and recurring mutations in specific kinases, using targeted genome sequencing.

2 Feb 2011

OPKO Health acquires CURNA

OPKO Health, has acquired CURNA, a privately held company based in Jupiter, Florida, engaged in the discovery of new drugs for the treatment of a wide variety of illnesses, such as cancer, heart disease, metabolic disorders and genetic anomalies.

1 Feb 2011

USPTO Board of Patent Appeals rules in favor of Pacific Biosciences in case against Life Technologies

Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. today announced that the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has rendered a decision in a previously announced patent interference provoked by Pacific Biosciences related to single molecule sequencing. The decision cancels all patent claims by Life Technologies Corporation involved in the interference.

1 Feb 2011

New research finding shows strong relationship between gut bacteria and fatty liver

The more we learn about biology, the closer we get to being able to treat disease - and the more complicated our understanding of disease itself becomes. A new research finding showing a strong relationship between complex microbial ecologies in human intestines and the common but serious medical condition known as fatty liver illustrates this paradox.

1 Feb 2011

Research shows nestin regulates formation of neuromuscular junction

In a study published in the Jan. 30, 2011, advance online edition of Nature Neuroscience, Salk Institute of Biological Studies investigators led by Kuo-Fen Lee, PhD., show that nestin has reason for being in a completely different cell type--muscle tissue.

30 Jan 2011

UMMS, Lundbeck announce research collaboration to develop targeted therapy for HD

The University of Massachusetts Medical School and Lundbeck Inc. today announced a research collaboration aimed at further development of a targeted therapy to slow or halt the progression of Huntington's disease.

29 Jan 2011

UMMS, Lundbeck enter research collaboration to develop targeted therapy for HD

The University of Massachusetts Medical School and Lundbeck today announced a research collaboration aimed at further development of a targeted therapy to slow or halt the progression of Huntington's disease.

28 Jan 2011

Positive results from RXi's sd-rxRNA technology for development of novel therapeutics

RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a recognized leader in RNAi-based therapeutics, announced today that, as part of its collaboration with miRagen Therapeutics, positive data were generated demonstrating that RXi's sd-rxRNA technology can be used, in vitro, to specifically enhance the activity of a microRNA of high interest to miRagen.

28 Jan 2011