RNA Interference
Rna interference is a process that causes destruction of specific mRNA molecule. In this process RNA molecules inhibit gene expression. This process used to have other names such as : co-suppression, post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS), and quelling. RNAi is easily used by researchers to help them learn more about silence genes. The cool feature about them is that they can be designed to match any gene.
During RNAi, long dsRNA is cut or "diced" into small fragments ~21 nucleotides long by an enzyme called "Dicer". These small fragments, referred to as small interfering RNAs (siRNA), bind to proteins from a special family: the Argonaute proteins. After binding to an Argonaute protein, one strand of the dsRNA is removed, leaving the remaining strand available to bind to messenger RNA target sequences according to the rules of base pairing: A binds U, G binds C, and vice versa. Once bound, the Argonaute protein can either cleave the messenger RNA, destroying it, or recruit accessory factors to regulate the target.
Citation:
Wang, H. (2015, July 10). How RNA Works. Retrieved from http://www.umassmed.edu/rti/biology/how-rnai-works/
During RNAi, long dsRNA is cut or "diced" into small fragments ~21 nucleotides long by an enzyme called "Dicer". These small fragments, referred to as small interfering RNAs (siRNA), bind to proteins from a special family: the Argonaute proteins. After binding to an Argonaute protein, one strand of the dsRNA is removed, leaving the remaining strand available to bind to messenger RNA target sequences according to the rules of base pairing: A binds U, G binds C, and vice versa. Once bound, the Argonaute protein can either cleave the messenger RNA, destroying it, or recruit accessory factors to regulate the target.
Citation:
Wang, H. (2015, July 10). How RNA Works. Retrieved from http://www.umassmed.edu/rti/biology/how-rnai-works/