Introduction to Section II: RNA methods to approach CFTR expression.

Abstract

In this section, we review methods for the analysis of the CFTR gene and its transcript. First, we discuss techniques to accurately measure levels of CFTR mRNA in primary human cells; next, protocols for measuring CFTR transcripts that contain premature termination codons and for evaluating the role of nonsense-mediated decay which targets these transcripts; a further chapter considers methodology to investigate pre-mRNA splicing. The penultimate chapter concentrates on methods for evaluating microRNA regulation of gene expression in the context of airway disease. The final chapter considers methods to evaluate the chromatin structure of the active CFTR locus and to analyse the cis-acting regulatory elements that control it.