Duplexes of 21-nucleotide RNAs mediate RNA interference in cultured mammalian cells.
RNA interference (RNAi) is the process of sequence-specific, post-transcriptional gene silencing in animals and plants, initiated by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) that is homologous in sequence to the silenced gene. The mediators of sequence-specific messenger RNA degradation are 21- and 22-nucleotide small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) generated by ribonuclease III cleavage from longer dsRNAs. Here we show that 21-nucleotide siRNA duplexes specifically suppress expression of endogenous and heterologous genes in different mammalian cell lines, including human embryonic kidney (293) and HeLa cells. Therefore, 21-nucleotide siRNA duplexes provide a new tool for studying gene function in mammalian cells and may eventually be used as gene-specific therapeutics.
Elbashir
S M
SM
Department of Cellular Biochemistry, Max-Planck-Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany.
Harborth
J
J
Lendeckel
W
W
Yalcin
A
A
Weber
K
K
Tuschl
T
T
D000818:Animals; D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D019556:COS Cells; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003063:Cnidaria; D001517:Coleoptera; D004330:Drosophila; D020868:Gene Silencing; D005796:Genes / Q000502:physiology*; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D034882:Lamins; D034521:Nuclear Matrix-Associated Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D014746:Vimentin / Q000235:genetics
D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D034882:Lamins; C050045:NUMA1 protein, human; D034521:Nuclear Matrix-Associated Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014746:Vimentin