RNA干扰:双链RNA引起的基因沉默机制——2006年诺贝尔生理学或医学奖成果简介

RNA Interference: Gene Silencing by Double-Stranded RNA——An Introduction to the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2006

RNA干扰现象是指一种由双链RNA分子引起的基因沉默现象,在动植物中普遍存在。RNA干扰不仅在生物的抗病毒反应、抑制转座子活性以及其他许多重要生理活动的调节方面发挥至关重要的作用,而且在基因功能研究和疾病治疗方面也具有广阔的应用前景。鉴于上述原因,2名美国科学家——AndrewZ.Fire和CraigC.Mello,因发现RNA干扰现象而获得了2006年的诺贝尔生理学或医学奖。

RNA interference （RNAi） refers to the gene silencing phenomenon induced by double-stranded RNAs. The RNAi mechanism is well conserved from plants to animals. It plays important roles in many important biological processes, such as antisense response, transposon repression and development regulation. RNA interference is also an important tool thr gene function study and gene therapy. Due to the importance of RNA interference, two American scientists, Andrew Z, Fire and Craig C. Mello, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine of 2006 for their contribution in the discovery of RNA interference.