Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

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...

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...

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...

Types of RNA

Types of RNA

Overview
Three main types of RNA are involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). These RNAs perform diverse functions and can be broadly classified as protein-coding or non-coding RNA. Non-coding RNAs play important roles in the regulation of gene expression in response to developmental and environmental changes. Non-coding RNAs in prokaryotes can be manipulated to develop more effective antibacterial drugs for human or animal use.
RNA...

Types of RNA

Types of RNA

Three main types of RNA are involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). These RNAs perform diverse functions and can be broadly classified as protein-coding or non-coding RNA. Non-coding RNAs play important roles in regulating gene expression in response to developmental and environmental changes. Non-coding RNAs in prokaryotes can be manipulated to develop more effective antibacterial drugs for human or animal use.
RNA Performs Diverse...

siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs

siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs

Small interfering RNAs, or siRNAs, are short regulatory RNA molecules that can silence genes post-transcriptionally, as well as the transcriptional level in some cases. siRNAs are important for protecting cells against viral infections and silencing transposable genetic elements.
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the ATP-dependent...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

A homogeneously enhancing mass evolving into multiple hemorrhagic and necrotic lesions in amoebic encephalitis with necrotizing vasculitis.

Clinical imaging·2019

Same author

An anomalous case of the flexor carpi radialis with an excessive muscular bundle.

Anatomical science international·2019

Same author

Intracellular build-up RNAi with single-strand circular RNAs as siRNA precursors.

Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)·2019

Same author

Electrical and optical control of single spins integrated in scalable semiconductor devices.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2019

Same author

Electrically driven optical interferometry with spins in silicon carbide.

Science advances·2019

Same author

Prism lens for beam collimation in a silicon photonic crystal beam-steering device.

Optics letters·2019

Same journal

A novel convenient method for high bacteriophage titer assay.

Nucleic acids symposium series (2004)·2009

Same journal

Expression behavior of high-pressure-compacted plasmid DNA in mammalian cell.

Nucleic acids symposium series (2004)·2009

Same journal

Role of exposed aromatic residues in substrate-binding of CBM family 5 chitin-binding domain of alkaline chitinase.

Nucleic acids symposium series (2004)·2009

Same journal

Incipient complex formation between AP endonucleases and DNA containing AP site: a vital role of the tryptophan residue.

Nucleic acids symposium series (2004)·2009

Same journal

Physiological role of RsgA in ribosome biosynthesis.

Nucleic acids symposium series (2004)·2009

Same journal

Trans-translation by tmRNA and SmpB.

Nucleic acids symposium series (2004)·2009

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 1, 2026

Sequence-specific and Selective Recognition of Double-stranded RNAs over Single-stranded RNAs by Chemically Modified Peptide Nucleic Acids

Sequence-specific and Selective Recognition of Double-stranded RNAs over Single-stranded RNAs by Chemically Modified Peptide Nucleic Acids

Published on: September 21, 2017

Nanocircular RNAs for RNA interference.

Hiroshi Abe¹, Naoko Abe, Mitsuru Harada

¹Nano Medical Engineering Laboratory, Advanced Science Institute, RIKEN, Wako-Shi, Saitama, 351-0198 Japan. h-abe@riken.jp

Nucleic Acids Symposium Series (2004)

|September 9, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed dumbbell-shaped nanocircular RNAs for enhanced RNA interference (RNAi). These structures are cleaved by Dicer into double-stranded RNA, offering prolonged RNAi activity compared to standard small interfering RNA (siRNA).

More Related Videos

Dual CRISPR-Interference Strategy for Targeting Synthetic Lethal Interactions Between Non-Coding RNAs in Cancer Cells

Dual CRISPR-Interference Strategy for Targeting Synthetic Lethal Interactions Between Non-Coding RNAs in Cancer Cells

Published on: May 30, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 1, 2026

Sequence-specific and Selective Recognition of Double-stranded RNAs over Single-stranded RNAs by Chemically Modified Peptide Nucleic Acids

Sequence-specific and Selective Recognition of Double-stranded RNAs over Single-stranded RNAs by Chemically Modified Peptide Nucleic Acids

Published on: September 21, 2017

Dual CRISPR-Interference Strategy for Targeting Synthetic Lethal Interactions Between Non-Coding RNAs in Cancer Cells

Dual CRISPR-Interference Strategy for Targeting Synthetic Lethal Interactions Between Non-Coding RNAs in Cancer Cells

Published on: May 30, 2025

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Biotechnology
RNA Therapeutics

Background:

RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful gene silencing mechanism.
Standard small interfering RNA (siRNA) is susceptible to degradation, limiting its therapeutic potential.
Novel RNA structures are needed to improve RNAi efficacy and stability.

Purpose of the Study:

To design and synthesize novel dumbbell-shaped nanocircular RNAs for enhanced RNA interference (RNAi) applications.
To optimize the structure of these RNA dumbbells for maximal RNAi activity.
To compare the duration of RNAi activity of RNA dumbbells with conventional siRNA.

Main Methods:

Design and synthesis of dumbbell-shaped nanocircular RNAs.
In vitro and cellular assays to assess RNA recognition and cleavage by the human Dicer enzyme.
Optimization of stem length (23 base pairs) for maximum RNAi potency.
Comparison of RNAi activity duration between RNA dumbbells and standard siRNA.

Main Results:

Dumbbell-shaped nanocircular RNAs were successfully synthesized.
These RNA structures are specifically recognized and cleaved by the human Dicer enzyme, forming double-stranded RNA within cells.
The optimized structure, with a 23 base pair stem, demonstrated the most potent RNAi activity.
The unique 'endless' structure of RNA dumbbells resulted in prolonged RNAi activity compared to normal siRNA, and resistance to serum degradation.

Conclusions:

Dumbbell-shaped nanocircular RNAs represent a promising platform for advanced RNA interference applications.
The optimized RNA dumbbell structure offers enhanced potency and prolonged duration of gene silencing.
This novel RNA design overcomes limitations of conventional siRNA, paving the way for more effective RNA-based therapeutics.