Engineering a viral suppressor of RNA silencing, p19, for applications in sensing, sequestering, and delivering small RNAs

了解细胞过程对于疾病和感染治疗的发展至关重要。这些细胞通路非常复杂，需要创造性的策略来进行研究。我们正在使用蛋白质工程技术来创建一种基于蛋白质的工具，用于询问“RNA沉默途径”，该途径在癌症和一些病毒感染等疾病中起着关键作用。我们正在开发通过使用尖端成像技术动态跟踪该途径的小RNA组分的方法。我们还在开发隔离特定小RNA的方法，以及将它们传递到生命系统的新方法。这项工作将促进对这一分子途径的理解，这将为开发靶向治疗药物创造更多机会。

Understanding cellular processes is fundamental to the development of treatments for disease and infection. These cellular pathways, being extremely complex, require creative strategies to allow their investigation. We are using protein engineering techniques to create a protein-based tool for interrogating the 'RNA silencing pathway,' which has a critical role in diseases such as cancer and some viral infections. We are developing ways to dynamically track the small RNA components of this pathway through the use of cutting-edge imaging techniques. We are also developing ways to sequester specific small RNAs and a novel method of delivering them to living systems. This work will progress the understanding of this molecular pathway which will create more opportunities for developing targeted therapeutics.