Molecular mechanisms of RNAi: implications for development and disease.
Research over the past few years has led to dramatic new discoveries on the role of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in the cell. RNA duplexes have been shown to orchestrate epigenetic changes, repress translation, and direct mRNA degradation in a sequence-specific manner. These diverse effects of dsRNA on gene expression have been termed RNA interference (RNAi). In addition to playing a role in viral defense and silencing transposons, RNAi also has a critical function in a number of developmental processes in the embryo. In this review, we explore these roles and discuss the molecular mechanisms behind dsRNA-mediated gene silencing. Further, we address the use of RNAi as a tool to study gene function in biology, and as a strategy for treating human disease.
Rao
Meenakshi
M
Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
Sockanathan
Shanthini
S
D000818:Animals; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D034622:RNA Interference; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering