RNA干扰分子机制研究进展

Advances in the molecular mechanism of RNA interference

RNA干扰 (RNA interference,RNAi)即双链 RNA(double- stranded RNA,ds RNA)介导的同源m RNA特异性降解过程。作为一种简单有效的影响基因表达和一定程度上替代基因敲除的遗传学工具 ,RNAi已在秀丽新小杆线虫、黑腹果蝇、拟南芥、红色面包霉菌等多种模式生物体中得到广泛证实。同时 ,RNAi的分子机制的研究也不断取得进展 ,包括对基因转录后水平、翻译水平、基因组甲基化及沉默信号的传递等层次的研究。清晰地阐明 RNAi作用机理 ,将为大规模的基因系统筛查、新基因的发现、人类肿瘤及难治性疾病的基因治疗提供重要的理论依据和有力的工具。

This paper reviews the latest development of RNA interference( RNAi). RNA interference is the process of sequence-specific degradation of homologous mRNA triggered by double-stranded RNA. As a technically simple and an effective genetic tool which can exert effect on the expression of gene and substitute for gene knock-out technique in some degree, RNAi phenomena have been broadly validated in diverse model organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster,Arabidopsis thaliana and Neurospora crassa. Simultaneously, study on molecular manchnism of RNAi, which might be involved in the level of post-transcription, translation, genome methylation or conduction of silencing signals, is now making unceasing progress. Clear elucidation of the molecular manchnism could provide important theoretical references and powerful tools for the practical application in this field where RNAi may be put into the use of systematic gene screening, the discovery of new genes and the gene therapy for human tumor or other refractory human diseases.