Built on solid science, we utilize natural occurring mechanisms to modulate mRNA (messenger RNA) expression. mRNAs are information carriers from DNA where genetic information is stored. mRNAs are translated into proteins through a series of biological processes. Proteins are then involved in many of body’s functions. However, mutations in the DNA can lead to erroneous information in mRNA resulting in the generation of dysfunction proteins. Targeting mRNAs offers a novel approach to modulate protein expression thus treat diseases.
One of the RNA-targeting technologies is RNAi (RNA interference). RNAi is a natural biological response to double stranded RNA. The discovery of RNAi was awarded the 2006 Nobel Prize. Designing small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting host mRNAs can specifically silence target mRNA thus reduce target protein expression. siRNAs are small duplexed-RNAs that incorporated into RISC (RNA-induced silencing complex), bind to target mRNAs, allowing the degradation of target mRNA.