title: RNA interference and mRNA silencing, 2004: how far will they reach?
abstract: The discoveries of RNA interference and RNA-mediated posttranscriptional gene silencing have opened an unanticipated new window on the regulation of gene expression as well as a facile and highly effective tool for knocking down gene expression in many organisms and cells. In addition, RNA interference and RNA silencing may conceivably be exploited for human therapeutics sometime in the future, possibly bringing greater clinical impact than have the so far disappointing antisense endeavors. This essay summarizes recent developments and offers some personalized perspectives, with emphasis on what we do not yet know.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology and Program in Cell Dynamics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, USA. thoru.pederson@umassmed.edu
authors.forename: Thoru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pederson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D034622:RNA Interference; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger