The RNA silencing technology applied by lentiviral vectors in oncology.
Since the discovery of RNA interference (RNAi) in Caenorhabditis elegans in 1998, this mechanism has been found to be conserved in a wide variety of species, including insects, plants, and mammals. In mammals, small (or short) interfering RNA (siRNA) or short hairpin RNA (shRNA) can be expressed by using several expression vectors including lentiviral vectors. The lentiviral vector has several useful characteristics for RNAi experiments including broad host tropism and stable gene transduction to both dividing and nondividing cells, which permits stable depletion of target genes. This technology can be useful for several applications, including basic cancer research.
Division of Cellular Signaling, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Hidetoshi
H
Sumimoto
Yutaka
Y
Kawakami
D002460:Cell Line; D020868:Gene Silencing; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D016086:Lentivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics*
D034741:RNA, Small Interfering