Review Article
J RNAi Gene Silenc (February 2006), 2(1), 109-117
doi: jrgsxx
Published online: 30 November 2005
Full Text: (html | pdf ~392kb | refs)
Designer siRNAs to overcome the challenges from the RNAi pathway
Sumedha D Jayasena
Amgen Inc., Oncology Research, One Amgen Center Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA
Correspondence to: Sumedha D Jayasena, Email: sumedhaj@amgen.com, Tel: +805 447 5627, Fax: +805 499 2751
Received: 13 October 2005, Revised: 7 November 2005, Accepted: 21 November 2005
© Copyright The Author
—————————————————————————————————————–
ABSTRACT
Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based technology is playing a pivotal role in understanding gene function. Huge siRNA libraries coupled to high-content screening are being applied to decipher molecular circuitries, as well as to identify novel therapeutic targets. Further, the technology is finding its way towards therapeutic applications. In the midst of all this excitement, the siRNA technology is faced with challenges, arising mostly from siRNAs being a nucleic acid molecule, and also from the baggage it inherits from the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway, which is critical to the function of siRNAs.
KEYWORDS: RNAi, siRNA, microRNA, gene silencing, off-target effects, siRNA design, siRNA delivery, shRNA expression, immune activation
—————————————————————————————————————–