Mining the Dark Transcriptome: Synthesizing the First Potential Drug Molecules From Long Noncoding RNA

Mining the dark transcriptome: Synthesizing the first potential drug molecules from long noncoding RNA

A team from University of Toronto Engineering is the first to synthesize long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) outside the cell—a new approach to drug discovery that has already yielded some promising anti-inflammatory molecules. The team was inspired by advances in the field of messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein replacement therapies. They realized that a similar approach could be used to deliver lncRNA to the body, unlocking a potential new source of drug…

University of Toronto Engineers Pioneer Potential Drug Molecules Derived

In a groundbreaking advancement poised to redefine the landscape of drug discovery, a pioneering research team at the University of Toronto Engineering faculty has achieved the first-ever synthesis of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) outside of living cells. This monumental step not only introduces an innovative approach in the quest for novel therapeutics but also fosters […]

Study suggests non-coding RNA, long considered genomic dark matter, has potential in anti-inflammation

Scientists develop synthetic long noncoding RNAs as potential anti-inflammatory drugs, with University of Toronto's Omar Khan showing promising results in human cells and mice.

Genetic “Dark Matter” Could Lead to New Class of Therapeutics

For the first time, researchers have created functional long non-coding (lnc)RNAs outside cells and used them to treat disease, revealing a whole new purpose for what was previously dismissed as “junk DNA.” The findings, in Science Signaling, could open up new treatments using this mysterious, non-coding RNA, once known as genomic “dark matter.” Indeed, the Canadian team suggests that lncRNA molecules have the potential to become a whole new cla…