title: Using RNA interference to study protein function.
abstract: RNA interference can be extremely useful in determining the function of an endogenously-expressed protein in its normal cellular environment. In this chapter, we describe a method that uses small interfering RNA (siRNA) to knock down mRNA and protein expression in cultured cells so that the effect of a putative regulatory protein on gene expression can be delineated. Methods of assessing the effectiveness of the siRNA procedure using real time quantitative PCR and Western analysis are also included.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Carol D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Nardulli
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering