Current State and Future Directions of RNA Interference Research
A special issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425). This special issue belongs to the section "RNA".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2022) | Viewed by 1887
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
It has been 15 years since the Nobel Prize was awarded to Andrew Fire and Craig Mello for their discovery of RNA interference (RNAi), published 25 years ago. This mechanism of gene silencing by double-stranded RNAs is crucial for the regulation of gene expression in cells and has become a powerful tool in therapeutic approaches. Two types of short non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are major inducers of RNAi: short-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs). The essence of gene regulation by siRNAs and miRNAs is their interaction with specific mRNAs based on sequence complementarity. Many years of investigation on siRNAs and miRNAs has provided information on their mechanism of action, the proteins involved, and on the identification of specific molecules and their role in developmental and pathogenic pathways. Moreover, many examples show the great diversity and flexibility of RNAi mechanisms. Recent findings indicate a greater role for short ncRNAs than previously assumed, for example, regarding their contribution to the overall network of interactions with other ncRNAs, such as long non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs) or circular RNAs (circRNAs). Importantly, the field of RNAi-based therapies continues to evolve and leads to many clinical ongoing trials. miRNAs are now considered not only as therapeutics but also as very promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets in many diseases.
The purpose of this Special Issue is to highlight recent advances and identify new directions in RNA interference research. Various studies in all areas of the field of RNA interference are welcome.
Dr. Agnieszka Fiszer
Guest Editor
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