What is RNA Interference?
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Accession number;06A0292921
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| Title;What is RNA Interference? |
| Author;
JIMI TAKAHIRO
(Showa Univ., Fujigaoka Hospital, JPN)
WAKAYAMA YOSHIHIRO
(Showa Univ., Fujigaoka Hospital, JPN)
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Journal Title;Neurological Therapeutics
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Journal Code:X0110A
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ISSN:0916-8443
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VOL.23;NO.1;PAGE.13-16(2006)
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| Figure&Table&Reference;FIG.1, REF.13 |
| Pub. Country;Japan |
| Language;Japanese |
| Abstract;RNA interference (RNAi) is a new technology of molecular biology and was recently distributed worldwide. RNAi is now becoming a useful and potent tool for gene silencing. Originally RNAi was a mechanism of cellular defense against viruses. RNAi could be applicable for any genes. The first step of RNAi is inducing large dsRNA into a cell and RNase III, Dicer cleaves the RNA into small fragments of dsRNA, which are called small interfering RNA (siRNA). Then the siRNA is incorporated into RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) and the complex of ssRNA and RISC cleaves the target mRNA. Because of avoiding marked interferon responses, siRNA is used for gene silencing in mammalian cells. RNAi is now applied in gene function research and is also used in experimental gene therapy. The advantages of RNAi are that it is simple, effective, and relatively specific for gene sequences. Now RNAi is available for experimental gene therapy for cancer, infectious diseases, and hereditary diseases, especially those of dominant inheritance. Furthermore, the mechanism of RNAi itself is very important for defining mechanisms of gene expression. Nonetheless there are some problems in applying RNAi to human therapy. First, RNAi sometimes causes an off-target effect in which normal genes are affected by a cross-reaction. Second, siRNA induces a mild interferon reaction which causes adverse effects in mammalian cells. Third, the delivery of siRNA into mammalian cells, especially into neurons, poses serious problems. However, numerous research projects are now in progress. In the near future, RNAi will be a very useful and effective treatment for human diseases. (author abst.) |
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