siRNA-MEDIATED GENE SILENCING
siRNA介导基因沉默的分子机器、作用模式和应用前景

siRNA-mediated gene silencing is an intracellular molecule mechanism through which unwanted mRNAs can be silenced, aberrant RNAs can be degraded, and epigenetic elements such as virus can be suppressed. With antibodies or immune cells, these small RNAs constitute the complete immune system in mammals and humans, by which invasion and interference from the inside and outside of body can be counteracted. Now it is clear that about 22 nt double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) can effectively inhibit cognate RNA molecules in a sequence-specific manner. This ancient and fascinating system has been recognized as a powerful and useful tool to identify gene functions, to explore gene expression and to alter gene phenotype. The new technology promises to be a highway for studying functional genomics, clarifying signal pathways, and creating gene-deficient models, and to set up novel therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of human diseases.