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Animal Endo-SiRNAs pp 1–10Cite as

Targeted Small Noncoding RNA-Directed Gene Activation in Human Cells

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1173))

Abstract

A growing body of evidence suggests that noncoding RNA (ncRNA) transcripts play a fundamental role in regulating gene expression via targeting epigenetic modifications to particular loci in the genome. Classical examples of such regulation are X-chromosome inactivation and genomic imprinting; however it is now clear that ncRNAs exert their influence over a wider array of genes throughout the metazoan genome. Accumulating evidence suggests that the ncRNAs act as guides for epigenetic silencing complexes to specific sites within the genome. Those ncRNAs involved in regulating the expression of particular protein-coding genes offer panoply of targets that when suppressed can result in derepression or activation of the ncRNA-targeted locus. Recent work has determined the underlying mechanisms involved in ncRNA-targeted epigenetic regulation in a subset of genes. These findings have resulted in a paradigm shift whereby targeted gene activation can be achieved, by targeting endogenous regulatory ncRNAs, producing potential novel treatments for genetic and infectious diseases where increases in gene expression are required.

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Acknowledgements

The project was supported by NIHLB R01AI084406, NIAID R56 AI096861-01, and PO1 AI099783-01 to KVM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia

    Caio Damski & Kevin V. Morris

  2. Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA

    Kevin V. Morris

Authors
  1. Caio Damski
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  2. Kevin V. Morris
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kevin V. Morris .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Cell and Molecular Bioscie, Newcastle University, United Kingdom

    Andreas Werner

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Damski, C., Morris, K.V. (2014). Targeted Small Noncoding RNA-Directed Gene Activation in Human Cells. In: Werner, A. (eds) Animal Endo-SiRNAs. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1173. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0931-5_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0931-5_1

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-0930-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-0931-5

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