RNA interference: applications in vertebrates.

摘要: One of the most unexpected findings in recent years has been discovery RNA interference (RNAi). The story started with paradoxical results from manipulations model organisms such as plants and worms. For example, addition supernumerary copies a pigment gene to petunia, designed increase color intensity flower, fact had opposite desired effect—flowers became less colorful instead more so1. In worm C. elegans, attempts modulated genes DNA antisense were at partially successful, but control using double-stranded yielded very efficient suppression expression2. Follow-up experiments established that molecules could somehow program selective degradation sequence-matched mRNAs (for reviews, see3,4,5).