RNA has sparked a revolution in modern medicine, with the potential to transform the way we treat diseases. Recent regulatory approvals, hundreds of new clinical trials, the emergence of CRISPR gene editing, and the effectiveness of mRNA vaccines in dramatic response to the COVID-19 pandemic have converged to create tremendous momentum and expectation. However, challenges with this relatively new class of drugs persist and require specialized knowledge and expertise to overcome. This Review explores shared strategies for developing RNA drug platforms, including layering technologies, addressing common biases and identifying gaps in understanding. It discusses the potential of RNA-based therapeutics to transform medicine, as well as the challenges associated with improving applicability, efficacy and safety profiles. Insights gained from RNA modalities such as antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and small interfering RNAs are used to identify important next steps for mRNA and gene editing technologies.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41573-024-00943-2 | DOI Listing |
Expert Opin Drug Discov
January 2025
Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
Introduction: Macromolecular X-ray crystallography (XRC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM) are the primary techniques for determining atomic-level, three-dimensional structures of macromolecules essential for drug discovery. With advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and cryoEM, the Protein Data Bank (PDB) is solidifying its role as a key resource for 3D macromolecular structures. These developments underscore the growing need for enhanced quality metrics and robust validation standards for experimental structures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEMBO Rep
January 2025
Myeloid Therapeutics Inc., Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
To address a wide range of genetic diseases, genome editing tools that can achieve targeted delivery of large genes without causing double-strand breaks (DSBs) or requiring DNA templates are necessary. Here, we introduce CRISPR-Enabled Autonomous Transposable Element (CREATE), a genome editing system that combines the programmability and precision of CRISPR/Cas9 with the RNA-mediated gene insertion capabilities of the human LINE-1 (L1) element. CREATE employs a modified L1 mRNA to carry a payload gene, and a Cas9 nickase to facilitate targeted editing by L1-mediated reverse transcription and integration without relying on DSBs or DNA templates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnal Chim Acta
January 2025
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Wuhan Research Center for Infectious Diseases and Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Hubei Engineering Center for Infectious Disease Prevention, Control and Treatment, Wuhan, People's Republic of China. Electronic address:
Background: In current years, the CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) based strategies have emerged as the most promising molecular tool in the field of gene editing, intracellular imaging, transcriptional regulation and biosensing. However, the recent CRISPR-based diagnostic technologies still require the incorporation of other amplification strategies (such as polymerase chain reaction) to improve the cis/trans cleavage activity of Cas12a, which complicates the detection workflow and lack of a uniform compatible system to respond to the target in one pot.
Results: To better fully-functioning CRISPR/Cas12a, we reported a novel technique for straightforward nucleic acid detection by incorporating enzyme-responsive steric hindrance-based branched inhibitors with CRISPR/AsCas12a methodology.
Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi
January 2025
Department of Medical Genetics and Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, China.
Stem Cell Res
December 2024
Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address:
A rare neurodevelopmental disorder has been linked to a well-conserved splice site variant in the TRAPPC4 gene (c.454 + 3A > G), which causes mis-splicing of TRAPPC4 transcripts and reduced levels of TRAPPC4 protein. Patients present with severe progressive neurological symptoms including seizures, microcephaly, intellectual disability and facial dysmorphism.
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