Question

What is RNA interference?

Answer 1

RNA interference or RNA silencing (RNAi):

1. It is a process that occurs in all eukaryotic cells as an approach to cellular defense.
2. It acts as an antiviral mechanism in higher plants and insects.

Process:

1. RNA silencing mechanism involves the initial processing of inducing dsDNA into small interfering RNA (siRNA).
2. These siRNAs are 20-25 nucleotides long corresponding to both sense and anti-sense strands of the target gene.
3. These siRNAs correspond to a protein complex referred to as RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC).
4. It acts as a guide to select target RNAs and process their degradation.
5. In plants, silencing is majorly achieved by methylation within transcribed region of the gene corresponding to the target RNA.

Practical applications of RNA silencing:

1. Biomedicine: Medicines have been developed for ocular and retinal disorders, cancer, kidney disorders, etc, using this technique.
2. Nematode-resistant plant: In the tobacco plant, root infestation by Meloidogyne incognita has been eradicated using RNA silencing.