RNA interference in functional genomics and medical research.
- Author:
Zili YOU
1
;
Jian HUANG
;
Ye ZHENG
;
Dezhong YAO
Author Information
1. School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China. zl_you@yahoo.com
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Gene Expression Regulation;
Gene Silencing;
Genomics;
RNA Interference;
RNA, Small Interfering;
RNA-Induced Silencing Complex
- From:
Journal of Biomedical Engineering
2004;21(5):848-851
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
RNA interference (RNAi) is a post-transcriptional gene silencing process by targeting mRNA for degradation in a sequence-specific manner. This powerful platform has enormous potential in functional genomics and medical research. As a tool to knock out expression of specific genes in a variety of organisms, RNAi was used to investigate gene function in a high throughput fashion. Highly conserved in evolution RNAi appears to have evolved as a cellular defense mechanism in plants and animals to suppress viral infection, transposon jumping and endogenous aberrant genes. Exploiting the natural mechanism, the researchers can shut down disease-causing genes and develop novel therapeutics against infection, tumor and other disease.
