[Basic research on and application of RNA interference].
RNAi, a novel strategy of gene-silencing induced by dsRNA, has recently become an important topic of discussion. dsRNAs introduced into a living body are processed by an enzyme known as the Dicer and become fractions of 21-23 nt RNAs (siRNA), after which they form protein complexes known as RNA-induced silencing complexes (RISC). The resulting RISC recognizes cognate mRNAs and cleave them. There are 2 ways to introduce dsRNAs to a living body: direct introduction of synthetic dsRNAs, and introduction of DNA templates into cells, followed by production of dsRNAs by transcription. Now that we can apply RNAi technologies into a living body, RNAi has become a widely used tool due to its great simplicity and high efficiency. However, there are still problems to be solved for more efficient use of RNAi. There are a wide range of applications such as analysis of gene functions and gene therapy. It is suggested that small RNAs, called miRNAs, exist in a living body and bind mRNAs to repress their translations. miRNA plays a great role in gene regulation and control of the differentiation and development of cells.
Ohta
Atsushi
A
Dept. of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Inoue
Atsushi
A
Taira
Kazunari
K
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D020868:Gene Silencing; D016045:Human Genome Project; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D034622:RNA Interference / Q000502:physiology; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D043244:Ribonuclease III
D035683:MicroRNAs; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D043244:Ribonuclease III