Transcriptional tools for aging research

The process of aging is controlled and influenced by genes and gene expression. Dissecting the roles individual genes play in aging requires molecular tools for manipulation of gene expression in a wide variety of experimental model systems. These tools include homologous recombination-based methods for the activation and repression of gene expression, gene activation by random insertion of strong promoters, the use of engineered dominant negative mutants, inhibition with antisense oligonucleotides, minor groove binding small molecules and via RNAi and the use of engineered transcription factors to either activate or repress endogenous gene expression. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.