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RNA‐mediated gene silencing: mechanisms and its therapeutic applications
Author(s) -
Verma N. K.,
Dey C. S.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.622
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1365-2710
pISSN - 0269-4727
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2710.2004.00579.x
Subject(s) - rna interference , rna silencing , small interfering rna , rna , gene silencing , dna directed rna interference , trans acting sirna , biology , gene expression , computational biology , messenger rna , ribonuclease , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , genetics
Summary RNA interference, part of a complicated network of interconnected pathways for cellular defence, RNA surveillance and development, has become a powerful tool for the experimental manipulation of gene expression. It is the process by which double‐stranded (dsRNA) silences specific gene expression through homology‐dependent degradation of cognate mRNA. The dsRNA is converted into 21nt small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), which directs a complex ribonuclease system to substrate mRNA targets. The degradation of the target mRNA is initiated with the cleavage at a position corresponding to the centre of the siRNA. Dissecting individual cellular pathways to reveal the function of numerous proteins is an approach to drug discovery. Interfering RNA (RNAi) serves as a rapid and convenient tool, which works in various organisms. RNAi technology has the potential to facilitate our understanding of biological processes and potentially lead to exciting new drugs. Here we review various experimental approaches adopted with RNAi and possible therapeutic applications.