An inventive method for amplifying at least one RNA which is contained in a sample includes reverse transcribing the at least one RNA using a first primer, adding a dideoxy nucleotide which is modified in the 3′-position with a first partner of a pair of azide and alkyne molecules by action of a template independent polymerase to attach a single 3′-azide- or 3′-alkyne-modified dideoxy nucleotide at the 3′-end of the obtained cDNA, adding an adapter molecule which comprises a polynucleotide sequence and at its 5′-end a second partner of such pair of azide and alkyne molecules and ligating the adapter to the 3′-modified cDNA under formation of a triazole linkage, adding a second primer which is complementary to at least a part of the adapter molecule and which contains at its 3′-end a nucleotide which is complementary to the dideoxy nucleotide at the 3′-end of the cDNA to effect hybridization and binding of the second primer overlapping the triazole linkage, adding a third primer and amplifying the full length cDNA. Variations of this method are also disclosed. Uses of such method especially for preparing a full length RNA library and for sequencing of a plurality of RNAs contained in a sample, as well as reagent kits for performing such methods are also disclosed and included in the invention.

The present invention relates to the field of plant genetic engineering. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for targeted modification of a plant genome sequence. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for targeted modification of a specific sequence in the plant genome into a target sequence of interest by a nuclease-reverse transcriptase fusion protein guided by a guide RNA, a genetically-modified plant produced by said method, and progenies of said plant.

The current disclosure provides methods and compositions useful in preparing transformed and immortalized zebra and quagga mussel cells that function as disseminated neoplastic (DN) cells, as well as the cells produced thereby. In particular, these cells are immortalized through modifying expression of the TERT nucleic acid and/or protein. Also provided are methods for using such mussel DNCs in cell culture, in vitro, and within live mussels in the lab or in the wild, to control mussel populations such as invasive zebra mussel or quagga mussel populations.

The disclosure provides for methods and compositions for treating a premature aging disorder or neurodegenerative disorder, particularly neurodegenerative disorders associated with amyloid deposition and neuronal death, such as Alzheimer's disease. Accordingly, aspects of the disclosure relate to a method for treating a premature aging disorder in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering a TERT activating therapy to the subject. Further aspects relate to a method for treating a neurodegenerative disorder in a subject comprising administering a TERT activating therapy to the subject.

The present invention relates to a mutant reverse transcriptase (RT) with increased thermal stability relative to the wildtype, a nucleic acid encoding the mutant RT, a cell comprising the mutant RT or the nucleic acid, a kit comprising the mutant RT, the use of the mutant RT for cDNA synthesis, method for reverse transcription of RNA comprising synthesizing cDNA with the use of the mutant RT and a method for detecting an RNA marker in a sample with the use of the mutant RT.

Amino acid substitutions that provide for increased elongation rates, resistance to PCR inhibitors, and reverse transcriptase activity of Thermus aquaticus (Taq) DNA polymerase enzymes are provided. Also provided are related methods of using the Taq DNA polymerase enzymes to rapidly detect nucleic acids of interest in crude biological samples, without DNA/RNA extraction.

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and compositions for site-specific genetic engineering using Programmable Addition via Site-Specific Targeting Elements (PASTE). PASTE comprises the addition of an integration site into a target genome followed by the insertion of one or more genes of interest or one or more nucleic acid sequences of interest at the site. PASTE combines gene editing technologies and integrase technologies to achieve unidirectional incorporation of genes in a genome for the treatment of diseases and diagnosis of disease.

The present invention provides MMLV reverse transcriptase enzymes with increased thermal stability as compared with wild type MMLV and AMV reverse transcriptases. The improved thermal stability allows for reverse transcription of RNA to cDNA at temperatures above 37° C., thereby reducing error rates introduced during cDNA synthesis. As a result, the reverse transcriptases of the invention allow for increased accuracy in the determination of transcriptomes of living organisms.

The present invention relates to a mutant reverse transcriptase (RT) with increased thermal stability relative to the wildtype, a nucleic acid encoding the mutant RT, a cell comprising the mutant RT or the nucleic acid, a kit comprising the mutant RT, the use of the mutant RT for cDNA synthesis, method for reverse transcription of RNA comprising synthesizing cDNA with the use of the mutant RT and a method for detecting an RNA marker in a sample with the use of the mutant RT.

The application provides compositions including engineered reverse transcriptases with at least one altered reverse-transcriptase related activity. The engineered reverse transcriptases or reverse transcription enzymes unexpectedly exhibit one or more altered reverse transcriptase related activities such as but not limited to altered template switching efficiency, altered transcription efficiency or both.