gene targeting

Michael Rogawski (University of California, Davis) summarizes his research on the antiepileptic activity of neurosteroids (e.g. ganaxolone, allopregnanolone). They are allosteric modulators of GABAA receptors and are active in many models of epilepsy. They are expected, however, to be most effective in catamenial epilepsy, infantile spasms or adult partial seizures. National Institutes of Health (NIH) is currently sponsoring a clinical trial of progesterone (precursor of allopregnanolone)...

The precise establishment of gene expression patterns is a crucial step in development. Formation of a sharp boundary between high and low spatial expression domains requires a genetic mechanism that exhibits sensitivity, yet is robust to fluctuations, a demand that may not be easily achieved by morphogens alone. Recently, it has been demonstrated that small RNAs (and, in particular, microRNAs) play many roles in embryonic development. Whereas some RNAs are essential for embryogenesis,...