Böcker av Jan Barciszewski

This book focuses on the current status of our understanding of RNA, a key biological molecule. The various RNAs covered are messenger RNA, ribosomal RNA, transfer RNA, noncoding RNAs, modified nucleosides, and RNA enzymes. The different chapters detail methods to investigate RNA structure and function, the chemistry of modified RNAs, and the latest advances in our understanding of the vast array of biological processes in which RNA is involved.RNA, in one form or another, touches almost everything in a cell. RNA has both structural and catalytic properties. RNA fulfills a broad range of functions. These molecules are no longer seen as passive elements transferring the genetic information from DNA into proteins but regulate the activity of genes during development, cellular differentiation, and changing environments. RNAs are involved in various aspects of cell physiology and disease development. Discoveries of RNA with unexpected diverse functions in healthy and diseased cells, such as the role of RNA as both the source and countermeasure to cancer or severe viral infection, stimulate new trends, passion, and solutions for molecular medicine.In this book, fundamental questions about the biochemical and genetic importance of RNA, how mRNAs are generated and used to produce proteins, how noncoding and catalytic RNAs mediate key cellular processes, how to determine RNA structure and how to apply RNA in treatment of diseases.This book is an essential resource for researches in academia and industry contributing to the development of new RNA therapeutics. The book is geared toward scientists from the graduate level on up and particularly appeals to active investigators in RNA biology, molecular biology, and biochemistry.

This book focuses on the fundamentals and applications of messenger RNA (mRNA)-based therapeutics and discusses the strengths and key challenges of this emerging class of drugs. In the past 30 years, extensive research and technological development in many areas have contributed to the emergence of in vitro transcribed mRNA as a therapeutic that has now reached clinical testing. Formulations that protect the mRNA from nucleases and accelerate its cellular uptake, combined with improvements to the mRNA molecules themselves, have been critical advancements for mRNAs to become viable therapeutics. Though once regarded as a serious impediment, the transient nature of mRNA technology is now considered a major advantage in making mRNA therapies safe and, ultimately, a potential game changer in the field of medicine. This new book in the RNA Technologies series provides a state-of-the-art overview on the emerging field of mRNA therapeutics covering essential strategies for formulation, delivery, and application. It also reviews the promising role in cancer immunotherapy, respiratory diseases, and chronic HBV infection and discusses RNA vaccines in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic. mRNA-based approaches have great potential to revolutionize molecular biology, cell biology, biomedical research, and medicine. Thus, this handbook is an essential resource for researchers in academia and industry contributing to the development of this new area of therapeutics.