Question

What is the role of RNA interference?

Answer 1

RNA interference:

1. RNA interference (RNAi) is a post-transcriptional method that is a highly conserved process in eukaryotic cells that leads to specific gene silencing through degradation of the target mRNA.
2. This mechanism is mediated by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) that is homologous in sequence to the silenced gene.

Role of RNA interference:

1. RNA-mediated interference (RNAi) is a technique by which the activity of a specific gene is inhibited by introducing a gene that produces both sense and antisense strands of mRNA.
2. These two strands pair to form a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA).
3. It breaks into small fragments, called short interference RNAs (siRNAs).
4. siRNA molecules attach to protein forming RNA Induced Silencing Complex (RISC).
5. RISC cleave mRNA has a complementary base sequence and makes the related gene silent.
6. This method is used to silence genes of parasites or microbes that enter the eukaryotic hosts.