BIOL 2020 Lecture 23: RNA Interference

Hybridization

the process of combining two complementary single-stranded DNA or RNA molecules and allowing them to form a single double-stranded molecule through base pairing

What can RNA hybridization detect?

mRNA molecules

Does injection of double-stranded RNA have a strong or weak effect?

strong

Injection of dsRNA ________ synthesis of specific proteins

inhibits

What does the injection of dsRNA inhibit?

synthesis of specific proteins

injection of dsRNA promotes what?

mRNA degradation

RNA interference (RNAi)

mechanism of gene regulation

Dicer

nuclease enzyme that cleaves dsRNA into small fragments (around 23 nucleotide pairs) called small interfering RNAs (siRNA)

What creates small interfering RNAs (siRNAs)?

dicer and dsRNA

These _______-stranded siRNAs are then bound by _______ and other components of the _________ ________

double, argonaute, RISC complex

RISC complex

RNA-inducing silencing complex, complex of ribonucleic acid and RNA-binding sites

RNA interference is a defence against what?

viruses and jumping genes

Where is RNAi especially crucial?

plants, worms and insects

What can dsRNA do when introduced experimentally?

silence genes of interest

shRNA

short hairpin RNA, artificial RNA molecule with a hairpin turn that mimics a dsRNA molecule

RNAi removes specific proteins in cells and tissues. Does it hurt the genome?

no

RNAi in the therapeutic setting

remove malfunctioning proteins that cause problems, destroy viruses

RNAi in the research setting

study the functions of individual parts

What disease can RNAi possibly cure?

huntington’s disease