A Rapid and Versatile Assay for Ago2-Mediated Cleavage by Using Branched Rolling Circle Amplification.

Micro RNA (miRNA) research has evolved into an essential part of investigating gene regulation in which deregulation of numerous miRNAs is associated with various cellular dysfunction and diseases. Here, we describe a rapid and homogenous assay for Ago2-mediated target RNA cleavage, based on branched rolling circle amplification (BRCA). In particular, the ability to investigate small molecule binders for inhibition of miRNA function is within the potential of our assay.

miRNAs as novel therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers for Parkinson's disease: a patent evaluation of WO2014018650.

Introduction: Parkinson's disease (PD) requires novel means for early-stage recognition, enabling early therapeutic approaches. Since microRNAs (miRNAs) are important components of the gene regulatory networks in neurodegenerative diseases, there is huge effort to find correlation between expression patterns of miRNAs and disease.

Areas Covered: The current application claims the use of miRNA signatures to diagnose and treat PD also in early nonsymptomatic stages.

Rotigotine protects against glutamate toxicity in primary dopaminergic cell culture.

In Parkinson disease the degeneration of dopaminergic neurones is believed to lead to a disinhibition of the subthalamic nucleus thus increasing the firing rate of the glutamatergic excitatory projections to the substantia nigra. In consequence, excessive glutamatergic activity will cause excitotoxicity and oxidative stress. In the present study we investigated mechanisms of glutamate toxicity and the neuroprotective potential of the dopamine agonist rotigotine towards dopaminergic neurones in mouse mesencephalic primary culture.

Assaying Dicer-mediated miRNA maturation by means of fluorescent substrates.

Assaying Dicer-mediated miRNA maturation is a valuable tool not only for validating miRNA maturation itself but also for testing Dicer activity in cell lysate and for screening small molecules inhibiting miRNA maturation in a high-throughput format. The classical assay for miRNA maturation relies on radioactive labeling of a pre-miRNA and subsequent gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. Here we present a fluorescently labeled and quenched pre-miRNA beacon that can be ligated easily out of two single labeled RNA strands.

MicroRNA maturation and human disease.

Numerous studies describe alterations in the levels of specific microRNAs (miRNAs) that are associated with human pathologies. Some of these alterations may give rise to the development of novel diagnostic tools, while certain miRNAs additionally could serve as novel drug targets. Moreover, components of the miRNA maturation machinery may be up- or down-regulated in human disease.

A chemo-enzymatic approach to specifically click-modified RNA.

The growing interest in single-molecule analysis of RNA calls for programmable enzymatic labeling strategies beyond the horizon of solid-phase synthesized RNAs. Herein we describe an easy and versatile chemo-enzymatic approach to label RNA at its termini or defined internal positions via click-chemistry.

Pharmacological targeting of the transcription factor Nrf2 at the basal ganglia provides disease modifying therapy for experimental parkinsonism.

Current therapies for motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) are based on dopamine replacement. However, the disease progression remains unaffected, because of continuous dopaminergic neuron loss. Since oxidative stress is actively involved in neuronal death in PD, pharmacological targeting of the antioxidant machinery may have therapeutic value.