title: On the use of short-interfering RNA to study alcohol-related genes.
abstract: One strategy to determine the contribution of individual genes to the development of complex traits and behaviors such as alcohol consumption is to reduce or completely eliminate the activity of those genes in the cells or organism under investigation and then study the effects of this modification. But how can a single specific gene be inactivated? One strategy that has been developed in recent years is the use of small, artificially generated molecules called short-interfering RNAs (siRNAs). This article briefly describes the principles of this strategy and presents some initial results obtained with this approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Wyoming School of Pharmacy, Laramie, Wyoming.
authors.forename: Christopher A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: W Michael
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Zawada
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D020868:Gene Silencing / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase