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RNA Research Evolves
Rohaizah James, PhD
RNA (ribonucleic acid) used to be the mistreated stepsister of the biological
world – the workhorse of the genetic field that no one would acknowledge.
In fact, small RNAs were routinely discarded from RNA preparations as they were
assumed to be degraded material. Amidst this cynicism, however was a community of
scientists that understood the secret and believed in the potential power of small
RNAs. Dharmacon was borne out of this community in 1995. Our founder,
Dr. Steven Scaringe, developed a novel chemistry for efficient and cost-effective
synthesis of small RNA.
When RNA interference (RNAi) burst onto the life science research stage in the late
1990's, Dharmacon was poised to provide RNAi-related products to the multitude of
academic and industry researchers. This expertise in RNA synthesis chemistry is
complemented with an exceptional team of bioinformaticists and RNA biology scientists,
which has led to the availability of a functionally guaranteed siRNA reagent for every
unique gene in three common species, totaling over 200,000 RNA reagents.
In October 2005, Dharmacon and ten research institutions in the US and Europe formed the
RNAi Global Initiative
(www.rnaiglobal.com) with the
goal of using RNAi to “rapidly accelerate basic biological and medical discovery.”
RNA, the once mistreated stepsister, is now the belle of the ball, on par with stem cells
as the next miracle therapeutic agent.
Following the discovery of RNAi, another small RNA molecule, microRNA (miRNA), emerged as
an important gene expression regulator (see the Review in Tech.edu
in this issue), once again placing RNA in the limelight. miRNA fine tunes the expression
of a gene primarily by regulating the translation level of protein without affecting the mRNA
level. This is in contrast to RNAi, where decreased protein level results from mRNA
degradation. To date, over 300 miRNAs have been identified in human cells.
While the general regulatory function of the miRNA is known, the target gene for a specific miRNA
is not always known. To facilitate the study of each miRNA, Dharmacon offers the miRIDIAN
microRNA product line, which includes an miRNA mimic and inhibitor for each identified miRNA in human,
mouse and rat. When an miRNA mimic is added to a cell, the protein level of the target gene
would be decreased, and when an miRNA inhibitor is added to a cell, the protein level of the target
gene would be increased. The use of these reagents that have opposing function will provide
information on the identity of the target gene that the miRNA regulates.
Dharmacon is also developing several additional reagents in the miRIDIAN microRNA product line,
such as miRNA detection reagents, with the goal of providing researchers with a complete panel of
reagents for their miRNA studies.
RNA is predicted to continue to change the field of medical research as the discovery of important new
RNA-based molecules continues. Dharmacon is committed to staying on the forefront of RNA
technology by providing the research and pharmaceutical scientists with high-quality RNA-related products. |
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