title: RNAi (Nematodes: Caenorhabditis elegans).
abstract: RNA interference in Caenorhabditis elegans is a type of homology dependent posttranscriptional gene silencing induced by dsRNA. In this chapter we describe the history of the discovery of RNAi, its systemic nature, inheritance, and connection to other homology-dependent silencing phenomena like co-suppression and transcriptional gene silencing. We discuss RNAi-deficient mutants in C. elegans as well as characterized components of the RNAi, pathway, the molecular mechanism of RNAi, and its possible role in development and immunity.
authors.affiliation: Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester 01605, USA.
authors.forename: Alla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grishok
authors.forename: Craig C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Mello
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics; D020868:Gene Silencing; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D005810:Multigene Family; D009154:Mutation; D018510:RNA, Helminth / Q000235:genetics*; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics; D013489:Suppression, Genetic
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D018510:RNA, Helminth; C122185:rde-1 protein, C elegans; C406772:EGO-1 protein, C elegans; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase