摘要
RNA interference （RNAi） is a highly conserved posttran- scriptional gene regulatory mechanism that controls gene expression at the mRNA level within living cells （Fire et al., 1998; Bell6s, 2010; Zhuang ＆ Hunter, 2012）. RNAi is triggered by small interfering RNA （siRNA）, which is processed by Dicer, an endoribonuclease in the RNase III family, from either exogenous （e.g., infection by a virus or laboratory manipulations） or endogenous （e.g., pre- microRNA） double-stranded RNA （dsRNA）. The siRNAs are short dsRNA fragments of about 20-25 base pairs and carry two base extensions at the 3＇ end of each strand. In the RNAi pathway, siRNAs are incorporated into an RNA-induced silencing complex （RISC） in conjunction with an Argonaute （Ago） multidomain protein. Ago which contains an RNase H-like domain responsible for target degradation cleaves and discards the passenger （sense） strand of the siRNA duplex leading to an active RISC.
RNA interference （RNAi） is a highly conserved posttran- scriptional gene regulatory mechanism that controls gene expression at the mRNA level within living cells （Fire et al., 1998; Bell6s, 2010; Zhuang ＆ Hunter, 2012）. RNAi is triggered by small interfering RNA （siRNA）, which is processed by Dicer, an endoribonuclease in the RNase III family, from either exogenous （e.g., infection by a virus or laboratory manipulations） or endogenous （e.g., pre- microRNA） double-stranded RNA （dsRNA）. The siRNAs are short dsRNA fragments of about 20-25 base pairs and carry two base extensions at the 3＇ end of each strand. In the RNAi pathway, siRNAs are incorporated into an RNA-induced silencing complex （RISC） in conjunction with an Argonaute （Ago） multidomain protein. Ago which contains an RNase H-like domain responsible for target degradation cleaves and discards the passenger （sense） strand of the siRNA duplex leading to an active RISC.
