title: Epigenetic manipulation of gene expression: a toolkit for cell biologists.
abstract: Cell biologists have been afforded extraordinary new opportunities for experimentation by the emergence of powerful technologies that allow the selective manipulation of gene expression. Currently, RNA interference is very much in the limelight; however, significant progress has also been made with two other approaches. Thus, antisense oligonucleotide technology is undergoing a resurgence as a result of improvements in the chemistry of these molecules, whereas designed transcription factors offer a powerful and increasingly convenient strategy for either up- or down-regulation of targeted genes. This mini-review will highlight some of the key features of these three approaches to gene regulation, as well as provide pragmatic guidance concerning their use in cell biological experimentation based on our direct experience with each of these technologies. The approaches discussed here are being intensely pursued in terms of possible therapeutic applications. However, we will restrict our comments primarily to the cell culture situation, only briefly alluding to fundamental differences between utilization in animals versus cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. arjay@med.unc.edu
authors.forename: Rudy L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Juliano
authors.forename: Vidula R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Dixit
authors.forename: Hyunmin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Tai Young
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D018390:Gene Targeting / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008967:Molecular Biology / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D020320:Oligoribonucleotides, Antisense / Q000235:genetics; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D020320:Oligoribonucleotides, Antisense; D014157:Transcription Factors; D012313:RNA