title: miR-Synth: a computational resource for the design of multi-site multi-target synthetic miRNAs.
abstract: RNAi is a powerful tool for the regulation of gene expression. It is widely and successfully employed in functional studies and is now emerging as a promising therapeutic approach. Several RNAi-based clinical trials suggest encouraging results in the treatment of a variety of diseases, including cancer. Here we present miR-Synth, a computational resource for the design of synthetic microRNAs able to target multiple genes in multiple sites. The proposed strategy constitutes a valid alternative to the use of siRNA, allowing the employment of a fewer number of molecules for the inhibition of multiple targets. This may represent a great advantage in designing therapies for diseases caused by crucial cellular pathways altered by multiple dysregulated genes. The system has been successfully validated on two of the most prominent genes associated to lung cancer, c-MET and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR). (See http://microrna.osumc.edu/mir-synth).
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210 USA alessandro.lagana@osumc.edu.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laganà
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210 USA.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Acunzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210 USA.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Molecular Biomedicine, University of Catania, 95100 Italy.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pulvirenti
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210 USA Department of Clinical and Molecular Biomedicine, University of Catania, 95100 Italy.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Veneziano
authors.affiliation: IOR-Institute of Oncology Research, Bellinzona, 6500 Switzerland.
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cascione
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Molecular Biomedicine, University of Catania, 95100 Italy.
authors.forename: Rosalba
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giugno
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210 USA.
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gasparini
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, New York, NY 10012 USA.
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shasha
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Molecular Biomedicine, University of Catania, 95100 Italy.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferro
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210 USA.
authors.forename: Carlo Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Croce
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D001483:Base Sequence; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D049410:Luciferases, Renilla / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D034622:RNA Interference; D012984:Software
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D035683:MicroRNAs; D049410:Luciferases, Renilla; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met