What is the function of RNA interference?

What is the function of RNA interference?

RNA interference (RNAi), a cellular process through which small RNAs target and regulate complementary RNA transcripts, has well-characterized roles in post-transcriptional gene regulation and transposon repression.

What do you understand by RNA interference?

RNAi is short for “RNA interference” and it refers to a phenomenon where small pieces of RNA can shut down protein translation by binding to the messenger RNAs that code for those proteins. RNA interference is a natural process with a role in the regulation of protein synthesis and in immunity.

How does the process of RNA interference work?

RNA interference (RNAi) is a biological process in which RNA molecules inhibit gene expression or translation, by neutralizing targeted mRNA molecules. RNAi is now known as precise, efficient, stable and better than antisense therapy for gene suppression.

What is RNAi and how does it work?

RNAi is a natural process that works like a “dimmer switch” to dial down the level of a protein. It likely evolved to protect cells from viruses. It begins when a form of RNA made of two strands (double-stranded RNA, or dsRNA) is introduced into the cell, for example by a virus, or produced in the cell.

What cell process does siRNA affect?

Once the single stranded siRNA (part of the RISC complex) binds to its target mRNA, it induces mRNA cleavage. The mRNA is now cut and recognized as abnormal by the cell. This causes degradation of the mRNA and in turn no translation of the mRNA into amino acids and then proteins.

What are the sources of dsRNA?

The production of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in eukaryotic cells, generally as the result of viral replication or the transcription of transposable elements and repetitive DNA sequences, is known to elicit two types of cellular defense responses.

How has RNAi technique helped to prevent?

RNAi technique is helpful in preventing the infestation of roots in tobacco plants. This can be done by introduction of nematode-specific genes using the Agrobacterium vectors into the host plant. The transgenic plant therefore got itself protected from the parasite.

How has RNAi technique helped to prevent the infestation of roots in tobacco plants by a nematode Meloidegyne Incognitia?

RNAi is a method adopted to prevent infestation of roots of tobacco plants by a nematode Meloidegyne incognitia. In RNAi, a complementary RNA binds to mRNA to form a ds RNA that cannot translate and hence, its expression is blocked (Silencing). This introduced DNA forms both sense and anti-sense RNA.