From new scientist magazine, RNA activation is a new technique that boosts gene activity, providing a genetic “on” switch. RNAi can silence genes in two ways. It can block the messenger RNA that is the intermediate between gene and protein and it can also interfere with “promoter” sequences that boost a gene’s activity. It was while investigating this second phenomenon that Long-Cheng Li of the University of California, San Francisco, and his colleagues stumbled on the new method, dubbed RNA activation.
Although the exact mechanism remains unclear, Li’s team has already found that it requires a protein called Ago2, which is also involved in the standard RNAi process. Li believes RNA activation could find widespread use, for example in treating cancer by boosting the activity of tumour suppressor genes.
It could also a workaround to achieve the objectives of gene therapy.
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