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Ribonuclease P as a Tool

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Book cover Ribonuclease P

Part of the book series: Protein Reviews ((PRON,volume 10))

Abstract

Two gene-targeting approaches have been developed with the use of RNase P. The first approach is based on an external guide sequence (EGS), which consists of a sequence complementary to a target mRNA and, when noncovalently complexed with RNase P, renders the target RNA susceptible to degradation by the ribonuclease. The second is involved in the generation of a sequence-specific ribozyme, M1GS, by covalently linking the RNase P catalytic subunit M1 RNA with a guide sequence that is complementary to a target mRNA. Both the M1GS ribozyme and EGS technology have been shown to be efficient and specific in cleaving an target mRNA sequence in vitro, and effective in down-regulating the expression of the target mRNA in cultured cells. This chapter summarizes the recent progress using the RNase P-based technology and offers insights into the future of using EGS and M1GS as tools for basic research and as gene-targeting agents for clinical applications.

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Acknowledgments

I apologize to the many authors whose publications were left unreferenced in this review due to space constraints. Special thanks go to Gerry Abenes, Kihoon Kim, Yong Bai, and Ed Yang for invaluable discussions on the manuscript and for preparations of the illustrations, and Sarah Viducich for editorial assistance. I also acknowledge the National Institutes of Health for their longstanding and generous support of our research on RNase P ribozyme and the EGS technology (AI041927 and DE014842).

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  1. Program in Comparative Biochemistry & Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, University of California, Room 326, 16 Barker Hall, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA

    Fenyong Liu

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  1. School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Warren Hall 140, Berkeley, 94720, U.S.A.

    Fenyong Liu

  2. Dept. Molecular, Cellular &, Yale University, Whitney Avenue 266, New Haven, 06520-8104, U.S.A.

    Sidney Altman

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Liu, F. (2010). Ribonuclease P as a Tool. In: Liu, F., Altman, S. (eds) Ribonuclease P. Protein Reviews, vol 10. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1142-1_14

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