Molecular Stethoscope, Inc., 10835 Road to the Cure, Suite 100, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA.
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2017;983:65-79. doi: 10.1007/978-981-10-4310-9_5.
The phenomenon of RNA activation (RNAa) was initially discovered by Li and colleagues about a decade ago. Subsequently, gene activation by exogenously expressed small activating RNA has been demonstrated in different cellular contexts by a number of laboratories. Conceivably, endogenously expressed microRNAs may also utilize RNA activation as a cellular mechanism for gene regulation, which may be dysregulated in disease states such as cancer. RNA activation can be applied to gain-of-function studies and holds great promise for disease intervention. This chapter will discuss examples of promoter-targeting microRNAs discovered in recent years and their pathophysiological relevance. I will also briefly touch upon other novel classes of microRNAs with positive gene regulatory roles, including TATA-box-activating microRNAs and enhancer-associated microRNAs.
RNA 激活（RNAa）现象最初是由李等人在大约十年前发现的。此后，许多实验室在不同的细胞环境中证明了通过外源性表达的小激活 RNA 进行基因激活。可以想象，内源性表达的 microRNAs 也可能将 RNA 激活作为一种细胞基因调控机制，而这种机制在癌症等疾病状态下可能会失调。RNA 激活可用于功能获得研究，并为疾病干预提供了巨大的潜力。本章将讨论近年来发现的靶向启动子的 microRNAs 及其与病理生理学的相关性的实例。我还将简要介绍具有正向基因调控作用的其他新型 microRNAs 类别，包括 TATA 盒激活 microRNAs 和增强子相关 microRNAs。
