RNA Interference

Schematic of RNAi Interference in Mammalian Cells

RNA Interference (RNAi) is a system in living cells that helps control the level of activity of genes. In RNAi, a long double stranded RNA is cleaved into shorter strands. One strand known as the guide strand is complimentary to the mRNA gene product of a gene of interest. This guide strand is incorporated into an RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) and subsequently binds the mRNA of the gene of interest. After binding, the RNA/RISC complex subsequently silences the mRNA of interest via cleavage of the mRNA strand.

Articles in Proteopedia concerning RNA Interference include:

• Flock house virus B2 protein Suppression of RNA Silencing
• Plant Viral Protein p19 Supression of RNA Silencing
• Suppression of RNA Silencing by Viruses
• Tomato aspermy virus protein 2b Suppression of RNA Silencing

To view other Proteopedia pages about diseases & drug targets, See: Pharmaceutical Drug Targets