RNA-triggered gene silencing.
Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) has recently been shown to trigger sequence-specific gene silencing in a wide variety of organisms, including nematodes, plants, trypanosomes, fruit flies and planaria; meanwhile an as yet uncharacterized RNA trigger has been shown to induce DNA methylation in several different plant systems. In addition to providing a surprisingly effective set of tools to interfere selectively with gene function, these observations are spurring new inquiries to understand RNA-triggered genetic-control mechanisms and their biological roles.
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Carnegie Institution of Washington, 115 West University Parkway, Baltimore, MD 21210, USA. fire@mail1.ciwemb.edu
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D005075:Biological Evolution; D015870:Gene Expression; D007109:Immunity / Q000235:genetics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000235:genetics*
D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded