Hippo and dystrophin complex signaling in cardiomyocyte renewal

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure include methods and compositions for the renewal of cardiomyocytes by targeting the Hippo pathway. In particular embodiments, an individual with a need for cardiomyocyte renewal is provided an effective amount of a shRNA molecule that targets the Sav1 gene. Particular shRNA sequences are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An isolated synthetic nucleic acid composition, comprising SEQ ID NO:11 and/or a derivative nucleic acid comprising at least 80% identity to SEQ ID NO:11, wherein the composition further comprises an antisense sequence of SEQ ID NO:11, wherein when the sequence and the antisense sequence are hybridized together to form a duplex structure, the sequence and the antisense sequence are separated by a loop structure. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the derivative nucleic acid is at least 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to SEQ ID NO:11. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid is at least 43 nucleotides in length. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid is no more than 137 nucleotides in length. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the loop structure is between 5 and 19 nucleotides in length. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the derivative nucleic acid has 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 mismatches compared to SEQ ID NO:11. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid or derivative nucleic acid is comprised in a vector. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the vector is a viral vector. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the vector is a non-viral vector. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the vector is a non-integrating vector. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the non-integrating vector is a lentiviral vector. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the expression of the nucleic acid is regulated by a tissue-specific or cell-specific promoter. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the promoter is a cardiomyocyte-specific promoter. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the cardiomyocyte-specific promoter is rat ventricle-specific cardiac myosin light chain 2 (MLC-2v) promoter; cardiac muscle-specific alpha myosin heavy chain (MHC) gene promoter; cardiac cell-specific minimum promoter from −137 to +85 of NCX1 promoter; chicken cardiac troponin T (cTNT), or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein a same vector comprises SEQ ID NO:10 and two or more of nucleic acids comprising SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:11, or SEQ ID NO:12. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the two or more nucleic acids are regulated by the same regulatory sequence. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the two or more nucleic acids are regulated by a different regulatory sequence.