Innovation in biotechnology that combine molecular biology, cell biology, microfabrication and bioinformatics are moving nucleic acid technologies from futuristic possibilities into common laboratory and clinical procedures. They have potential to revolutionize biomedical research and medicine. Three variants of RNA technologies are known, namely antisense oligonucleotides, RNA interference, and ribozymes. In spite of different mechanisms of action, all of them are united by the common principle: an antisense preparation works after binding with RNA-target by forming a duplex. Today all three approaches are intensively used in vivo. RNA mediated gene silencing is a powerful technology to downregulate the expression of targeted genes within the cell. Now RNA interference based therapeutics is to be released. This book provides a state-of-the-art review concerning the molecular basis as well as applications of RNA based technologies in molecular biology and medicine.

The Key Features of RNA Silencing

Selected Strategies for the Delivery of siRNA In Vitro and In Vivo
RNAi Suppression and Its Application
Strategies to Prevent siRNA-Triggered Cellular Toxicity
RNAi in Malignant Brain Tumors: Relevance to Molecular and Translational Research
Silencing Huntington's Disease Gene with RNAi
Application of Dicer-Substrate siRNA in Pain Research
RNAi Treatment of HIV-1 Infection
Application of RNA Interference to Treat Conditions Associated with Dysregulation of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 Channel
Harnessing RNAi-Based Functional Genomics to Unravel the Molecular Complexity Underlying Skin Pigment Variation
mRNA Structure and its Effects on Posttranscriptional Gene Silencing
Antisense RNA-Mediated Regulation of the p53 Tumor Suppressor
Antisense Oligonucleotides: Insights from Preclinical Studies and Clinical Trials
What can the New Hammerhead Ribozyme Structures Teach us About Design?
microRNA Biogenesis and its Impact on RNA Interference
MicroRNAs in Epithelial Antimicrobial Immunity
Emerging Roles of Long Noncoding RNAs in Gene Expression and Intracellular Organization
Noncoding RNAs as Therapeutic Targets
Noncoding RNAs at H19/IGF2 Locus: Role in Imprinting, Gene Expression, and Associated Pathologies.