title: Biochemical mechanisms of the RNA-induced silencing complex.
abstract: In less than 10 years since its inception, RNA interference (RNAi) has had extraordinary impact on biomedical science. RNAi has been demonstrated to influence numerous biological and disease pathways. Development and adoption of RNAi technologies have been prolific ranging from basic loss-of-function tools, genome-wide screening libraries to pharmaceutical target validation and therapeutic development. However, understanding of the molecular mechanisms of RNAi is far from complete. The purpose of this brief review is to highlight key achievements in elucidating the biochemical mechanisms of the RNA-induced silencing complex and to outline major challenges for the field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
authors.forename: Zain
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Paroo
authors.forename: Qinghua
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D034622:RNA Interference / Q000502:physiology*; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000502:physiology*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D043244:Ribonuclease III / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D043244:Ribonuclease III