MicroRNAs (miRNAs) form a large class of non-coding RNAs that function in repression of gene expression in eukaryotes. By recognizing short stretches of nucleotides within the untranslated regions of mRNAs, miRNAs recruit partner proteins to individual transcripts, leading to mRNA cleavage or hindering of translation. Bioinformatic predictions and a wealth of data from wet laboratory studies indicate that miRNAs control expression of a large proportion of protein-coding genes, implying involvement of miRNAs in regulation of most biologic processes. In this review we discuss the biology of miRNAs and present examples of how manipulation of miRNA expression or activity can be exploited to attain the desired phenotypic traits in cell engineering as well as achieve therapeutic outcomes in treatment of a diverse set of diseases.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3197041
Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) constitute a group of non-coding RNAs principally involved in posttranscriptional modification of ubiquitously expressed ribosomal and small nuclear RNAs. However, a number of tissue-specific snoRNAs have recently been identified that apparently do not target conventional substrates and are presumed to guide processing of primary transcripts of protein-coding genes, potentially expanding the diapason of regulatory RNAs that control translation of mRNA to proteins. Here, we review biogenesis of snoRNAs and redefine their function in light of recent exciting discoveries. We also discuss the potential of recombinant snoRNAs to be used in modulation of gene expression.
COBISS.SI-ID: 24989735
We have identified that TDP-43 is imported into the nucleus via the Karyopheirn beta 1 pathway and that knockdown of members of the pathway can lead to cytoplasmic accumulation of TDP-43. We have also observed that one of the members of the pathway, CAS (cell apoptosis susceptibility protein) is greatly reduced in the post-mortem brain tissue of patients who had FTLD, which may be one of the reasons for cytoplasmic TDP-43 accumulation in this disease. This finding suggests that the disturbance in the nuclear transport of TDP-43 could be one of the root causes of TDP-43 proteinopathies.
COBISS.SI-ID: 23645223
We have analysed the incidence of optineurin inclusions in different neurodegenerative disorders including PD. Using immunohistochemistry and western blotting, we have shown that optineurin inclusions are found in a minority of ALS and FTLD-TDP cases and that they are very rare in other neurodegenerative diseases.
COBISS.SI-ID: 24751911
Age is the most important risk factor for neurodegeneration; however, the effects of aging and neurodegeneration on gene expression in the human brain have most often been studied separately. Here, we analyzed changes in transcript levels and alternative splicing in the temporal cortex of individuals of different ages who were cognitively normal, affected by frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), or affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD). We identified age-related splicing changes in cognitively normal individuals and found that these were present also in 95% of individuals with FTLD or AD, independent of their age. These changes were consistent with increased polypyrimidine tract binding protein (PTB)-dependent splicing activity. We also identified disease-specific splicing changes that were present in individuals with FTLD or AD, but not in cognitively normal individuals. These changes were consistent with the decreased neuro-oncological ventral antigen (NOVA)-dependent splicing regulation, and the decreased nuclear abundance of NOVA proteins. As expected, a dramatic down-regulation of neuronal genes was associated with disease, whereas a modest down-regulation of glial and neuronal genes was associated with aging. Whereas our data indicated that the age-related splicing changes are regulated independently of transcript-level changes, these two regulatory mechanisms affected expression of genes with similar functions, including metabolism and DNA repair. In conclusion, the alternative splicing changes identified in this study provide a new link between aging and neurodegeneration.
COBISS.SI-ID: 8549204