Inhibition of gene expression by RNase P

Eirik Wasmuth Lundblad; Sidney Altman

doi:10.1016/j.nbt.2010.03.003

Inhibition of gene expression by RNase P

N Biotechnol. 2010 Jul 31;27(3):212-21. doi: 10.1016/j.nbt.2010.03.003. Epub 2010 Mar 6.

Authors

Eirik Wasmuth Lundblad¹, Sidney Altman

Affiliation

¹ Reference Centre for Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance, Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of North Norway, 9038 Tromsø, Norway. ewl000@uit.no

PMID: 20211282
DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2010.03.003

Abstract

The ability to interfere with gene expression is of crucial importance to unravel the function of genes and is also a promising therapeutic strategy. Here we discuss methodologies for inhibition of target RNAs based on the cleavage activity of the essential enzyme, Ribonuclease P (RNase P). RNase P-mediated cleavage of target RNAs can be directed by external guide sequences (EGSs) or by the use of the catalytic M1 RNA from E. coli linked to a guide sequence (M1GSs). These are not only basic tools for functional genetic studies in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells but also promising antibacterial, anticancer and antiviral agents.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Bacteria / genetics
Gene Expression Regulation*
Humans
Molecular Sequence Data
Neoplasms / genetics
Nucleic Acid Conformation
RNA / chemistry
RNA / genetics
RNA / metabolism*
Ribonuclease P / genetics
Ribonuclease P / metabolism*
Viruses / genetics

Substances

RNA
Ribonuclease P