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...

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...

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...

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Programming T cells for intercellular genome editing.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Harmonizing standards and resources for the medical genome.

Nature·2026

Same author

Publisher Correction: Lung and liver editing by lipid nanoparticle delivery of a stable CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoprotein.

Nature biotechnology·2026

Same author

Targeting Cancer-Specific Mutations with RNA-Triggered Chromatin Shredding.

Nature·2026

Same author

Selective Elimination of TP53 Mutant Cells by Transcript-Activated Chromatin Shredding.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

A Noncontiguous Code for RNA-Guided DNA Recognition Preceded CRISPR.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Optical Tweezers to Study RNA-Protein Interactions in Translation Regulation

Optical Tweezers to Study RNA-Protein Interactions in Translation Regulation

Published on: February 12, 2022

Structural insights into RNA interference.

Dipali G Sashital¹, Jennifer A Doudna

¹Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.

Current Opinion in Structural Biology

|January 8, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Small RNAs regulate gene expression in animals and plants. Recent studies reveal progress in understanding small RNA production and RNA interference (RNAi) mechanisms for mRNA destruction.

More Related Videos

An Assay for Quantifying Protein-RNA Binding in Bacteria

An Assay for Quantifying Protein-RNA Binding in Bacteria

Published on: June 12, 2019

Double-stranded RNA Oral Delivery Methods to Induce RNA Interference in Phloem and Plant-sap-feeding Hemipteran Insects

Double-stranded RNA Oral Delivery Methods to Induce RNA Interference in Phloem and Plant-sap-feeding Hemipteran Insects

Published on: May 4, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Optical Tweezers to Study RNA-Protein Interactions in Translation Regulation

Optical Tweezers to Study RNA-Protein Interactions in Translation Regulation

Published on: February 12, 2022

An Assay for Quantifying Protein-RNA Binding in Bacteria

An Assay for Quantifying Protein-RNA Binding in Bacteria

Published on: June 12, 2019

Double-stranded RNA Oral Delivery Methods to Induce RNA Interference in Phloem and Plant-sap-feeding Hemipteran Insects

Double-stranded RNA Oral Delivery Methods to Induce RNA Interference in Phloem and Plant-sap-feeding Hemipteran Insects

Published on: May 4, 2018

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Genetics
Biochemistry

Background:

Small RNA molecules are crucial for regulating protein expression in virtually all animals and plants.
These regulatory mechanisms are vital during development and in response to viral infections.
Understanding these pathways is key to deciphering gene regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent advancements in small RNA pathways.
To elucidate the mechanisms of small RNA biogenesis.
To explain the formation and function of RNA-induced silencing complexes (RISCs) in messenger RNA (mRNA) targeting.

Main Methods:

Review of structural and mechanistic studies.
Analysis of recent progress in regulatory RNA production.
Examination of mRNA targeting during RNA interference (RNAi).

Main Results:

Significant progress has been made in understanding small RNA biogenesis.
The formation and function of RNA-induced silencing complexes (RISCs) are becoming clearer.
Mechanisms for targeting complementary mRNAs have been illuminated.

Conclusions:

Recent research has significantly advanced our understanding of small RNA pathways.
The production of regulatory RNAs and their role in mRNA degradation via RNAi are better understood.
Continued structural and mechanistic studies promise further insights into these fundamental biological processes.