Aspects of the present disclosure are drawn to methods of improving the expression of secreted cuproenzymes from host cells by manipulating the expression level of one or more proteins involved in copper transport in the host cell, e.g., membrane-bound copper transporting ATPases and soluble copper transporters. The present disclosure also provides compositions containing such improved host cells as well as products derived from the improved host cells that contain one or more cuproenzymes of interest.

The present disclosure relates to method of producing and using short interfering nucleic acids (siNAs) for preventing or reversing progressive optical neuropathy associated with the elevation of intraocular pressure due to excessive noradrenergic activation. In particular, this disclosure relates to the method of producing and using siNAs for or reversing progressive optical neuropathy, wherein the optical neuropathy is selected from the following list: diabetic retinopathy, infections, inflammation, uveitis and glaucoma, such as open-angle glaucoma, close-angle glaucoma, normal pressure glaucoma, congenital glaucoma, secondary glaucoma, pigmentary glaucoma, pseudoexfoliative glaucoma, traumatic glaucoma, neovascular glaucoma, endothelial iridocorneal syndrome and uveitic glaucoma. The present disclosure is also directed to interfering RNA duplexes and vectors encoding such interfering RNA duplexes.