Abstract

RNAi: An innate gene knockdown mechanism

Author(s): D.Sudarsanam, T.Srinivasan

RNA interference (RNAi) is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism in eukaryotic cells, It is a gene down-regulatory process occurring in both nucleus and cytoplasm at different stages of cell cycles (cell proliferation, developmental stage and cell death). In this mechanism, dsRNA derived small RNAs (19-28 nt in length) act as molecular scissor which the homologues mRNA has been degraded with the help of Argonaute protein, Dicer (RNase III like enzyme) and other cofactors these effectors-protein complex named asRNA-induced silencing complex (RISC).