Unlocking the secrets of gene silencing! This seminal paper elucidates the mechanism of RNA interference (RNAi), demonstrating that 21- and 22-nucleotide RNA fragments are the key mediators of sequence-specific posttranscriptional gene silencing. Using a *Drosophila* in vitro system, the researchers reveal that these short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are generated from long dsRNA through an RNase III-like processing reaction. This discovery sheds light on the fundamental processes governing gene expression and regulation. The study further demonstrates that chemically synthesized siRNA duplexes with overhanging 3′ ends can efficiently cleave target RNA in the lysate, pinpointing the cleavage site near the center of the region spanned by the guiding siRNA. Evidence suggests that the direction of dsRNA processing determines whether sense or antisense target RNA can be cleaved by the siRNA–protein complex. These findings have profound implications for understanding gene regulation and developing RNAi-based therapeutics. By identifying siRNAs as the active mediators of RNAi, this research paved the way for targeted gene silencing approaches, with potential applications in treating various diseases, advancing our fundamental knowledge of cellular biology and opening new avenues for therapeutic intervention.
Published in Genes & Development, a leading journal in molecular biology, this study on RNA interference aligns perfectly with the journal's focus on cutting-edge research in gene regulation and developmental biology. The paper's findings have had a lasting impact, influencing subsequent studies on RNAi mechanisms and applications.
| Category | Category Repetition |
|---|---|
| Science: Biology (General) | 751 |
| Science: Biology (General): Genetics | 490 |
| Science: Chemistry: Organic chemistry: Biochemistry | 442 |
| Science: Biology (General): Cytology | 337 |
| Medicine: Medicine (General) | 303 |