title: The long processes of short interfering RNAs--RNA interference and its implications in neuronal cells.
abstract: Reverse genetics has been greatly advanced by the discovery of RNA interference (RNAi). This intracellular RNA-mediated gene silencing pathway is partially conserved from plants to mammals and offers a new powerful tool for the analysis of gene function. We give a brief overview of the discovery of RNAi, the underlying mechanisms and probable intrinsic roles of the pathway. Recent reports utilizing RNAi for gene silencing approaches in neuronal cells are reviewed and possible delivery techniques for small interfering RNA/double-stranded RNA are discussed.
authors.affiliation: S2-Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. plingor@gwdg.de
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lingor
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bähr
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering
chemical_list: D034741:RNA, Small Interfering