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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.
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Translational Regulation

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Translational regulation in prokaryotes ensures efficient protein synthesis by controlling ribosome access to mRNA. This regulation is mediated by secondary RNA structures, including translational riboswitches, RNA thermometers, and small RNAs (sRNAs), which respond to intracellular and environmental signals to modulate gene expression.Translational RiboswitchesRiboswitches in the leader region of mRNAs can regulate translation by altering the accessibility of the Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence,...

Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps

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The gene expression in cells is regulated at different stages: (i) transcription, (ii) RNA processing, (iii) RNA localization, and (iv) translation. Transcriptional regulation is mediated by regulatory proteins such as transcription factors, activators, or repressors—these control gene expression by initiating or inhibiting the transcription of genes. Once a precursor or pre-mRNA is produced, it undergoes post-transcriptional modification, including 5' capping, splicing, and the addition of a...

Transcriptional Regulation: Riboswitches

Transcriptional Regulation: Riboswitches

Riboswitches are RNA elements that regulate gene expression by altering their secondary structures in response to specific effector molecules. These elements, located in the leader regions of certain mRNAs, act as transcriptional regulators by toggling between alternative conformations to control downstream gene expression. Riboswitch-mediated regulation is a precise mechanism for modulating biosynthetic pathways, as exemplified by the riboflavin biosynthesis pathway in Bacillus...

siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs

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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.
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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Enhanced Northern Blot Detection of Small RNA Species in Drosophila Melanogaster

Enhanced Northern Blot Detection of Small RNA Species in Drosophila Melanogaster

Published on: August 21, 2014

Resources for small regulatory RNAs.

George W Bell¹, Fran Lewitter

¹Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA.

Current Protocols in Molecular Biology

|July 4, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

New small regulatory RNAs like microRNAs (miRNAs) and siRNAs have been discovered. This overview highlights available databases and tools for exploring these crucial RNA resources.

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Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Genomics
Bioinformatics

Background:

Recent discoveries have revealed novel classes of small regulatory RNAs.
These molecules were previously undetected due to their small size.
Key examples include small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs).

Purpose of the Study:

To provide an overview of the expanding landscape of small regulatory RNAs.
To introduce readers to the numerous databases and computational tools available for small RNA research.

Main Methods:

Literature review of recent advancements in small RNA research.
Compilation and categorization of existing databases and bioinformatics tools.

Main Results:

Identification of multiple classes of small regulatory RNAs.
Cataloging of diverse data resources and analytical tools for small RNA analysis.

Conclusions:

The field of small regulatory RNA research has grown significantly.
A wealth of resources now exists to support the study and application of these RNAs.