The researchers detected this SMN long noncoding
RNA, or lnc -
RNA (pronounced «link
RNA») for short, in human
embryonic kidney
cells, brain
cell samples and neurons derived
from the
stem cells of healthy people and those with spinal muscular atrophy type I and II.
mRNA expression
from the targeted allele could be detected in
embryonic stem cells by RT - PCR (Figure 1D), although expression was reduced approximately 5-fold relative to wt mRNA transcript levels as determined by Northern blotting of
RNA from the testis of heterozygous animals (Figure 1E).