title: A short primer on RNAi: RNA-directed RNA polymerase acts as a key catalyst.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. kazuko@wistar.upenn.edu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishikura
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: 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