RIP-Chip Tears Into miRNP Complex AnalysisJanuary 6, 2010Solving the mysteries of miRNA:mRNA interactions has been a tough case to crack. Correlation studies, and miRNA target prediction algorithms point us in the right direction, but their indirect nature is a little like going to trial with only circumstantial evidence. Researchers from University of Kentucky published a new paper demonstrating how RIP-Chip techniques can […]
Developing Technologies for Improved In Vivo Epigenetic Imaging/AnalysisDecember 15, 2009The NIH is opening up its wallet again for epigenetic technology development. $3.5M will be allocated in 2010 for developing in vivo epigenetic imaging and analysis technologies. According to the grant description, the NIH has recognized that “… the technologies available to determine the epigenetic state of tissues in vivo are extremely limited. The specific […]
Targeted Bisulfite Sequencing with Padlock ProbesDecember 8, 2009A rising star in the epigenetics field, Dr. Kun Zhang joined the UCSD faculty in 2007 after a post-doc with George Church at Harvard. Engaging in a little friendly competition with his former mentor, Zhang published a technique for targeted bisulfite sequencing using padlock probes (Nat. Biotechnol. 2009, 27, 353) at the same time the […]
LNA miR-122 Inhibitors Put HCV in Lockdown in vivoDecember 3, 2009miR-122 is a talented regulator. Sure it can negatively regulate gene expression by binding 3’ UTRs of target mRNAs, but it’s also shown that it can bind 5’ UTRs in the HCV genome just as well, and act as a positive regulator, giving the virus a hand with replicating its genome. Facilitating viral replication? Well, […]
Pre-miRNA Importin and Exportin Strong As EverDecember 2, 2009In today’s global economy, imports and exports can ebb and flow dramatically depending on economic conditions. But in the fine-tuned cellular economy, where supply-demand runs the show, miRNA Importin and Exportin operate with consistency that would have most economists envious. When pre-miRNAs are shipped from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Exportin-5 escorts the ~65 nt […]