JoHo kan jouw hulp goed gebruiken! Check hier de diverse studentenbanen die aansluiten bij je studie, je competenties verbeteren, je cv versterken en een bijdrage leveren aan een tolerantere wereld
RNA interference, often abbreviated as RNAi, is a remarkable biological process where small RNA molecules act as cellular volume knobs, regulating gene expression by silencing specific genes. It's a natural defense mechanism found in many organisms, including plants and animals, and has become a powerful tool in molecular biology research.
What are the key features of RNA interference?
- Double-Stranded RNA (dsRNA): The trigger for RNAi is typically double-stranded RNA. This can be introduced into the cell experimentally or be a product of viral infection or transposon (jumping gene) activity.
- Dicer Enzyme: An enzyme called Dicer chops the dsRNA into tiny snippets known as small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), typically 21-23 nucleotides long.
- RISC Complex: These siRNAs are then loaded onto a protein complex called the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC).
- Target Recognition: The single-stranded siRNA within RISC guides the complex to a complementary sequence on a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule.
- Gene Silencing: Through various mechanisms, RISC facilitates the degradation or translational repression of the targeted mRNA, effectively preventing the production of the protein encoded by that gene.
What is the importance of RNA interference?
- Gene Regulation: RNAi provides a powerful tool to study gene function by specifically silencing genes and observing the resulting effects on the cell or organism.
- Therapeutic Potential: RNAi holds immense promise for developing new therapies by targeting genes involved in diseases like cancer, viral infections, and neurodegenerative disorders.
- Functional Genomics: It facilitates the exploration of gene networks and understanding how genes interact with each other to control various cellular processes.
What are applications of RNA interference in practice?
- Functional Studies: Researchers use RNAi to silence specific genes and analyze the resulting changes in cell behavior, protein expression, or developmental processes.
- Drug Discovery: RNAi can be used to identify and validate potential drug targets by silencing genes and assessing the effect on disease phenotypes.
- Gene Therapy: Scientists are exploring the use of RNAi to silence disease-causing genes directly within patients, offering a potential new approach to treatment.
Practical example
Imagine researchers are studying a specific gene suspected to be involved in uncontrolled cell division in cancer. They can introduce siRNA molecules targeting this gene into cancer cells. If the siRNA effectively silences the gene, the researchers might observe a decrease in cell proliferation, suggesting the targeted gene plays a crucial role in cancer cell growth. This knowledge can be used to develop drugs that target the same gene pathway for cancer treatment.
Critical remarks
- Off-Target Effects: siRNAs might accidentally bind to unintended mRNA sequences, leading to silencing of non-target genes. Careful design and validation of siRNAs are crucial.
- Delivery Challenges: Delivering RNAi molecules efficiently and specifically to target tissues or cells remains a challenge, especially for in vivo applications.
- Limited Efficiency: The effectiveness of RNAi can vary depending on the cell type and target gene. Sometimes, complete silencing might not be achievable.
Study Guide with flashcards and definitions with Genomics at Utrecht University
Flashcards and definitions with Genomics
Online flashcards with Genomics
- Centromere
- Chromatides
- Chromosomes
- Sex chromosomes
- Asexual reproduction
- Sexual reproduction
- Mitosis
- Meiosis
- Genomics
- Transcriptomics
- Proteomics
- Metabolomics
- Plasmid
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Next Generation Sequencing
- Sanger sequencing
- RNA-sequencing
- CRISPR-Cas9
- Forward genetic screens
- Reverse genetic screens
- RNA interference
- Bioinformatics
- DNA replication
- DNA mutation
- Evolution
- Horizontal gene transfer (HGT)
- Virus
- Microsatellites
- Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST)
- Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable data (FAIR data)
- Phylogenetic tree
- Insertion
- Deletion
- For flashcards and definitions, see the supporting content of this study guide
Genomics: The best concepts summarized
Genomics: The best concepts summarized
Table of contents
- Centromere
- Chromatides
- Chromosomes
- Sex chromosomes
- Asexual reproduction
- Sexual reproduction
- Mitosis
- Meiosis
- Genomics
- Transcriptomics
- Proteomics
- Metabolomics
- Plasmid
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Next Generation Sequencing
- Sanger sequencing
- RNA-sequencing
- CRISPR-Cas9
- Forward genetic screens
- Reverse genetic screens
- RNA interference
- Bioinformatics
- DNA replication
- DNA mutation
- Evolution
- Horizontal gene transfer (HGT)
- Virus
- Microsatellites
- Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST)
- Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable data (FAIR data)
- Phylogenetic tree
- Insertion
- Deletion
Summaries and Study Assistance - Start
Summaries, study notes, tips and tools for study and know how
For optimal and free use of summaries, study help, exam tickets, practice exams, bullet points notes
- join JoHo WorldSupporter
- then check the study and exam tips;
- study the material through the summaries;
- repeat the material through the bullets or notes
- master the material through the practice exams.
- Lees verder over Summaries and Study Assistance - Start
- 19366 keer gelezen
JoHo can really use your help! Check out the various student jobs here that match your studies, improve your competencies, strengthen your CV and contribute to a more tolerant world
Online access to all summaries, study notes en practice exams
- Check out: Register with JoHo WorldSupporter: starting page (EN)
- Check out: Aanmelden bij JoHo WorldSupporter - startpagina (NL)
How and why would you use WorldSupporter.org for your summaries and study assistance?
- For free use of many of the summaries and study aids provided or collected by your fellow students.
- For free use of many of the lecture and study group notes, exam questions and practice questions.
- For use of all exclusive summaries and study assistance for those who are member with JoHo WorldSupporter with online access
- For compiling your own materials and contributions with relevant study help
- For sharing and finding relevant and interesting summaries, documents, notes, blogs, tips, videos, discussions, activities, recipes, side jobs and more.
Using and finding summaries, study notes en practice exams on JoHo WorldSupporter
There are several ways to navigate the large amount of summaries, study notes en practice exams on JoHo WorldSupporter.
- Use the menu above every page to go to one of the main starting pages
- Starting pages: for some fields of study and some university curricula editors have created (start) magazines where customised selections of summaries are put together to smoothen navigation. When you have found a magazine of your likings, add that page to your favorites so you can easily go to that starting point directly from your profile during future visits. Below you will find some start magazines per field of study
- Use the topics and taxonomy terms
- The topics and taxonomy of the study and working fields gives you insight in the amount of summaries that are tagged by authors on specific subjects. This type of navigation can help find summaries that you could have missed when just using the search tools. Tags are organised per field of study and per study institution. Note: not all content is tagged thoroughly, so when this approach doesn't give the results you were looking for, please check the search tool as back up
- Check or follow your (study) organizations:
- by checking or using your study organizations you are likely to discover all relevant study materials.
- this option is only available trough partner organizations
- Check or follow authors or other WorldSupporters
- by following individual users, authors you are likely to discover more relevant study materials.
- Use the Search tools
- 'Quick & Easy'- not very elegant but the fastest way to find a specific summary of a book or study assistance with a specific course or subject.
- The search tool is also available at the bottom of most pages
Do you want to share your summaries with JoHo WorldSupporter and its visitors?
- Check out: Why and how to add a WorldSupporter contributions
- JoHo members: JoHo WorldSupporter members can share content directly and have access to all content: Join JoHo and become a JoHo member
- Non-members: When you are not a member you do not have full access, but if you want to share your own content with others you can fill out the contact form
Quicklinks to fields of study for summaries and study assistance
Field of study
- All studies for summaries, study assistance and working fields
- Communication & Media sciences
- Corporate & Organizational Sciences
- Cultural Studies & Humanities
- Economy & Economical sciences
- Education & Pedagogic Sciences
- Health & Medical Sciences
- IT & Exact sciences
- Law & Justice
- Nature & Environmental Sciences
- Psychology & Behavioral Sciences
- Public Administration & Social Sciences
- Science & Research
- Technical Sciences
Add new contribution