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RNAi

RNAi. Carly Sproule BE 4332. What is RNA Interference?. Mechanism that silences a gene so that the protein associated with it is not expressed Regulates gene expression Used as an immune response and natural defense mechanism

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RNAi

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  1. RNAi CarlySproule BE 4332

  2. What is RNA Interference? • Mechanism that silences a gene so that the protein associated with it is not expressed • Regulates gene expression • Used as an immune response and natural defense mechanism • Can be used for certain gene therapies in humans as well as having agricultural uses

  3. How Was RNAi Discovered?

  4. How Does It Work?

  5. How Does It Work? • A piece of double stranded RNA(dsRNA) triggers the process • RDE-4 and RDE-1 must be present to signal the Dicer molecule (DCR-1) • Dicer cuts a short-interferening RNA (siRNA) • This siRNA has a two nucleotide overhang on the 3’ ends(sticky ends)

  6. How Does It Work? • The guide strand of the siRNA complexes to form the RNA Induced Silencing Complex (RISC) • Slicer is part of the activated RISC complex • The guide strand finds a complementary sequence so Slicer can chop that piece of RNA thereby silencing the gene

  7. How Does It Work? • In plants, fungi, and some animals, RNA dependent RNA polymerases(RDRP) amplify the RNAi mechanism • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZZyxVP02UU

  8. Therapeutic Uses • Cancer • Auto-immune diseases • Viral infections • Dominant genetic disorders

  9. Agricultural Uses • Virus resistant plants and crops • Plants that produce dsRNA that silence specific and essential genes in pests • Create sterile hybrids • Enhance nutrient content

  10. Looking to the Future • New techniques to combat diseases • Cure for cancer? • Pesticides may become a thing of the past • Increased crop yield • Safer for consumption • Fewer malnourished peoples

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