Mouse embryonic stem cells as a model genetic system to dissect and exploit the RNA interference machinery.
Conditional gene targeting is often a useful approach to elucidate the in vivo function of a gene. We use this approach to investigate the biological role of the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway in mammals. In addition, the RNAi machinery in mammalian cells can be exploited for gene knock-down experiments. In this chapter, we discuss the variety of experiments that can be performed using genetically engineered embryonic stem (ES) cells. ES cells provide a mammalian genetic system that is physiological, and tractable for mutagenesis and experimentation. This approach is economical and rapid, because it does not require production and breeding of genetically engineered mice.
Muljo
Stefan A
SA
The CBR Institute for Biomedical Research and Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Kanellopoulou
Chryssa
C
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D018390:Gene Targeting; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D034622:RNA Interference; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
D035683:MicroRNAs