75K RNA regulated transcription

Abstract

A method for altering transcription in a cell comprising an amount of active CDK9/cyclin, comprises the steps of: (a) introducing in the cell an agent which modulates the amount of active CDK9/cyclin in the cell, and thereby alters transcription in the cell, wherein the agent comprises an RNA selected from the group consisting of an RNA aptamer that specifically binds CDK9/cyclin, a CDK9/cyclin-binding domain of 7SK RNA, a 7SK RNA-binding antisense 7SK RNA domain, and a 7SK RNA-specific RNAi, and (b) detecting a resultant altering of transcription in the cell. Methods for screening for an agent which modulates 7SK RNA-CDK9/cyclin binding generally comprise the steps of (a) incubating a mixture of 7SK RNA, CDK9/cyclin and a candidate agent under conditions wherein but for the presence of the agent, the 7SK RNA and CDK9/cyclin engage in a reference binding; and (b) detecting an agent-biased binding of the 7SK RNA to the CDK9/cyclin.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
     
     
         21 . A method for increasing a CDK9/cyclin-dependent transcription in a cell, the method comprising the steps of: 
 incubating a human cell comprising human 7SK RNA (SEQ ID NO: 1) and comprising an amount of active CDK9/cyclin, and in which a CDK9/cyclin-dependent transcription is to be increased;    introducing in the cell a human 7SK RNA-binding antisense 7SK RNA which increases the amount of active CDK9/cyclin in the cell, and thereby increases said CDK9/cyclin-dependent transcription in the cell, wherein the antisense RNA consists of antisense of nucleotides 221-241 or 95-114 of human 7SK RNA (SEQ ID NO: 1); and    detecting a resultant increase in CDK9/cyclin-dependent transcription in the cell, wherein the CDK9/cyclin-dependent transcription is selected from the group consisting of transcription from a recombinant construct, LTR promoter-controlled transcription and HIV transcription.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the transcription is from a recombinant construct.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the transcription is an LTR promoter-controlled transcription.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the transcription is HIV transcription.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the antisense RNA consists of antisense of nucleotides 221-241 or 95-114 of human 7SK RNA (SEQ ID NO:1).  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the antisense RNA consists of antisense of nucleotides 221-241 or 95-114 of human 7SK RNA (SEQ ID NO:1).  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the antisense RNA consists of antisense of nucleotides 221-241 or 95-114 of human 7SK RNA (SEQ ID NO:1).  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the antisense RNA consists of antisense of nucleotides 221-241 or 95-114 of human 7SK RNA (SEQ ID NO:1).  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the antisense RNA consists of antisense of nucleotides 95-114 of human 7SK RNA (SEQ ID NO:1).  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the antisense RNA consists of antisense of nucleotides 95-114 of human 7SK RNA (SEQ ID NO:1).  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the antisense RNA consists of antisense of nucleotides 95-114 of human 7SK RNA (SEQ ID NO:1).  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the antisense RNA consists of antisense of nucleotides 95-114 of human 7SK RNA (SEQ ID NO:1).