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.