A short primer on RNAi: RNA-directed RNA polymerase acts as a key catalyst.
One of the many intriguing features of gene silencing by RNA interference is the apparent catalytic nature of the phenomenon. New biochemical and genetic evidence now shows that an RNA-directed RNA polymerase chain reaction, primed by siRNA, amplifies the interference caused by a small amount of "trigger" dsRNA.
Nishikura
K
K
The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. kazuko@wistar.upenn.edu
D000818:Animals; D002474:Cell-Free System; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D004722:Endoribonucleases / Q000502:physiology; D020868:Gene Silencing / Q000502:physiology*; D018390:Gene Targeting; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / Q000502:physiology*; D043244:Ribonuclease III; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
D019476:Insect Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase; D004722:Endoribonucleases; D043244:Ribonuclease III