The invention relates to double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) compositions targeting the ALAS1 gene, and methods of using such dsRNA compositions to alter (e.g., inhibit) expression of ALAS1.

PVT1 exon 9 is overexpressed in aggressively tumorigenic prostate cancer cell lines and prostate tumor tissues. This exon provides a diagnostic tool for the detection and monitoring of aggressive prostate cancer. Several small interfering ribonucleic acids (siRNAs) are disclosed that are useful for treating prostate cancer.

A MNase-Sequence Capture method, mTSS-seq, was developed herein to map genome-wide nucleosome distribution in cancer, for example primary human lung and colon adenocarcinoma tissue. Here, it was confirmed that nucleosome redistribution is an early, widespread event in lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) and colon adenocarcinoma (CRC). These altered nucleosome architectures are consistent between LAC and CRC patient samples indicating that they can serve as important early adenocarcinoma markers. As such, this consistency would be expected in other adenocarcinomas, as well as other carcinomas. It was demonstrated that the nucleosome alterations are driven by the underlying DNA sequence and potentiate transcription factor binding. DNA-directed nucleosome redistributions are widespread early in cancer progression, thus providing a methodology for early detection of cancer in grade one patients.

The present invention relates to a double-helix oligonucleotide construct comprising a double-stranded miRNA and a composition for preventing or treating cancer comprising the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a double-helix oligonucleotide construct comprising miR-544a characterized by a method that effectively inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells or induces a voluntary death of cancer cells, and an anticancer composition comprising the construct.

The present invention relates to an RNAi-inducing nucleic acid molecule having a new structure and the use thereof, and more particularly to a novel nucleic acid molecule having a structure comprising a first strand, which is 24-121 nt in length and comprises a region complementary to a target nucleic acid, and a second strand which is 13-21 nt in length and has a region that binds complementarily to the region of the first strand, which is complementary to the target nucleic acid, so that the nucleic acid molecule inhibits the expression of a target gene with increased efficiency, and to a method of inhibiting the expression of a target gene using the nucleic acid molecule. The nucleic acid molecule structure of the present invention increases the efficiency with which the nucleic acid molecule inhibits the target gene. Alternatively, the nucleic acid molecule of the present invention can either increase the ability of the siRNA to bind to the target gene or cause synergistic cleavage, by introduction of antisense DNA, antisense RNA, ribozyme or DNAzyme, thereby increasing the efficiency with which the nucleic acid molecule inhibits the target gene. In addition, when the nucleic acid molecule according to the present invention is used, the efficiency with which the target gene is inhibited can be maintained for an extended period of time. Accordingly, the RNAi-inducing nucleic acid molecule of the present invention can be effectively used for the treatment of cancer or viral infection in place of conventional siRNA molecules.

The invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of a RRM2 gene. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA or nucleic acid molecules or vectors encoding the same together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; methods for treating diseases caused by the expression of a RRM2 gene using said pharmaceutical composition; and methods for inhibiting the expression of RRM2 in a cell.

Compositions and methods for conditionally regulating activities of CRISPR-Cas systems. In some embodiments, the methods comprise providing an inactive guide RNA comprising a regulatory domain bound by a lock nucleic acid different from the guide RNA; and displacing the lock nuclei acid from the regulatory domain by a trigger nucleic acid, thereby activating the guide RNA, wherein the activated guide RNA forms a complex with a Cas enzyme.

The present invention is directed to a method of treating cancer using interfering RNA duplexes to mediate gene silencing. The present invention is also directed to interfering RNA duplexes and vectors encoding such interfering RNA duplexes.

The invention relates to modified oligonucleotides, e.g., saRNAs useful in upregulating the expression of a target gene and therapeutic compositions comprising such oligonucleotides. Methods of using the oligonucleotides and the therapeutic compositions are also provided.

The invention relates to double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) compositions targeting the ALAS1 gene, and methods of using such dsRNA compositions to alter (e.g., inhibit) expression of ALAS1.