What is siRNA and RNAi?Summary: Short interfering RNA (siRNA) introduction and term definition.
Content: siRNA is small (or short) interfering RNA of 21-23 nucleotides produced by enzyme digestion. siRNA can bind to mRNA target in a sequence specific manner for degradation thus induce gene expression silencing (RNAi). RNAi gene silencing is a powerful reverse genetics tool to knock down gene expression.
Mesh term of RNA interference: A gene silencing phenomenon whereby specific dsRNAs (RNA, DOUBLE-STRANDED) trigger the degradation of homologous mRNA (RNA, MESSENGER). The specific dsRNAs are processed into SMALL INTERFERING RNA (siRNA) which serves as a guide for cleavage of the homologous mRNA in the RNA-INDUCED SILENCING COMPLEX (RISC). DNA METHYLATION may also be triggered during this process.
References:
- http://www.invitrogen.com/downloads/RNAi_Technology_Insights.pdf
- http://www.nature.com/focus/rnai/animations/index.html
- Guo S, and Kemphues KJ. par-1, a gene required for establishing polarity in C. elegans embryos, encodes a putative Ser/Thr kinase that is asymmetrically distributed. Cell. 1995 May 19;81(4):611-20.
- Elbashir et al. Duplexes of 21-nucleotide RNAs mediate RNA interference in cultured mammalian cells. Nature. 2001 May 24;411(6836):494-8.
Keywords: sirna,rnai,rna interference
Last update: 2006-09-10 02:28:15 |
