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Experimental RNAi

Experimental RNAi

RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular mechanism that inhibits gene expression by suppressing its transcription or activating the RNA degradation process. The mechanism was discovered by Andrew Fire and Craig Mello in 1998 in plants. Today, it is observed in almost all eukaryotes, including protozoa, flies, nematodes, insects, parasites, and mammals. This precise cellular mechanism of gene silencing has been developed into a technique that provides an efficient way to identify and determine the...

RNA Interference

RNA Interference

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...

piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs

piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs

PIWI-interacting RNAs, or piRNAs, are the most abundant short non-coding RNAs. More than 20,000 genes have been found in humans that code for piRNAs while only 2000 genes have been found for miRNAs. piRNAs can act at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels and have a vital role in silencing transposable elements present in germ cells. They are also involved in epigenetic silencing and activation. Previously, they were thought to function only in germ cells but new evidence suggests...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Application of RNA Interference in the Pinewood Nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

Application of RNA Interference in the Pinewood Nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

Published on: March 9, 2022

RNAi from plants to nematodes.

Godelieve Gheysen¹, Bartel Vanholme

¹Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Godelieve.Gheysen@UGent.be

Trends in Biotechnology

|January 27, 2007

Summary

Scientists utilized RNA interference (RNAi) to combat plant parasitic nematodes. Expressing double-stranded RNA in host plants effectively reduced nematode infections by targeting essential parasite genes.

Area of Science:

Plant Science
Molecular Biology
Nematology

Background:

Nematodes are significant plant parasites, causing substantial agricultural damage.
Controlling plant parasitic nematodes has been a long-standing challenge in agriculture.
The discovery of RNA interference (RNAi) by Fire and Mello in 2006 opened new avenues for biological control.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the efficacy of RNAi-based techniques for controlling plant parasitic nematodes.
To determine if expressing double-stranded RNA in host plants can confer resistance to nematode infection.
To identify specific nematode genes that can be targeted by RNAi for pest management.

Main Methods:

Developing transgenic host plants engineered to express double-stranded RNA (dsRNA).

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Last Updated: Jul 17, 2026

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RNAi Screening to Identify Postembryonic Phenotypes in C. elegans

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Designing dsRNA constructs targeting key genes in the root-knot nematode, including housekeeping and parasitism genes.

Evaluating the effectiveness of the RNAi treatment by assessing nematode infection levels and plant resistance.

Main Results:

Expression of dsRNA in host plants led to significant resistance against nematode infection.
Targeting specific nematode genes via RNAi effectively disrupted nematode biology and parasitism.
Successful control of root-knot nematodes was achieved using this RNAi-based approach.

Conclusions:

RNAi technology offers a promising and effective strategy for managing plant parasitic nematodes.
Engineering host plants to express dsRNA is a viable method for conferring resistance to nematode infestation.
This approach represents a significant advancement in sustainable agriculture and pest control.