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Post‐transcriptional gene‐silencing and RNA interference: genetic immunity, mechanisms and applications
Author(s) -
Turner Mark,
Schuch Wolfgang
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/1097-4660(200010)75:10<869::aid-jctb285>3.0.co;2-i
Subject(s) - gene silencing , biology , rna interference , functional genomics , computational biology , mechanism (biology) , gene , transgene , mutagenesis , genetics , genomics , rna , genome , mutation , philosophy , epistemology
This review summarises the development of our understanding of co‐suppression in plants, and describes how co‐suppression relates to similar post‐transcriptional gene‐silencing (PTGS) phenomena, and underlying genetic immunity mechanisms. These comparisons have enabled us to develop sophisticated models that go some way to explaining what causes co‐suppression, and indicate that manipulation of the underlying mechanisms can provide the plant biotechnologist with new tools to control gene expression and silencing in transgenic plants. Recently, it has become apparent that the mechanism underlying PTGS has, at least in essence, been conserved through divergent evolution and similar mechanisms to co‐suppression are functional in nematode, insect and mammalian cells. In addition to the original applications in plant biotechnology, the development of technology based on PTGS is proving to be a highly valuable alternative to mutagenesis for functional genomics applications in both plant and animal model species. The recent discovery that PTGS mechanisms operate in mammalian cells indicates that there are likely to be wider applications for technology based on PTGS, possibly including human therapeutics. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry