Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...
siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs02:30

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...
Experimental RNAi02:15

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 Interference01:23

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Mismatch repair dissection by in vivo RNAi reveals dose-dependent modulators of somatic instability and proteome remodeling in Huntington's disease.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Precision RNAi for Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva: a combinatorial, unimolecular, allele selective approach.

Research square·2026
Same author

Fully Modified SpyCas9 Guide RNAs Enable Robust Genome Editing In Cells and In Vivo.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

C57BL/6 BAC-CAG Huntington's disease mice show somatic CAG expansion and responses to small interfering RNAs comparable to the FVB strain.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Divalent siRNA for prion disease.

Nucleic acids research·2026
Same author

Efficient Downregulation of Flt-1 Mediated by Splice Switching ASO in Murine Endothelial Cells.

Nucleic acid therapeutics·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2026

In Vivo Nanovector Delivery of a Heart-specific MicroRNA-sponge
09:53

In Vivo Nanovector Delivery of a Heart-specific MicroRNA-sponge

Published on: June 15, 2018

Specificity and functionality of microRNA inhibitors.

Barbara Robertson1, Andrew B Dalby, Jon Karpilow

  • 1Dharmacon Products, Thermo Fisher Scientific, 2650 Crescent Drive, Suite 100 Lafayette, CO 80026, USA. annaleen.vermeulen@thermofisher.com.

Silence
|April 3, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Synthetic miRNA inhibitors' effectiveness depends on mismatch positions. Both seed region and 3' end complementarity are crucial for optimal synthetic microRNA inhibitor function.

More Related Videos

MicroRNA-based Regulation of Picornavirus Tropism
09:05

MicroRNA-based Regulation of Picornavirus Tropism

Published on: February 6, 2017

Identifying Targets of Human microRNAs with the LightSwitch Luciferase Assay System using 3'UTR-reporter Constructs and a microRNA Mimic in Adherent Cells
07:19

Identifying Targets of Human microRNAs with the LightSwitch Luciferase Assay System using 3'UTR-reporter Constructs and a microRNA Mimic in Adherent Cells

Published on: September 28, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 14, 2026

In Vivo Nanovector Delivery of a Heart-specific MicroRNA-sponge
09:53

In Vivo Nanovector Delivery of a Heart-specific MicroRNA-sponge

Published on: June 15, 2018

MicroRNA-based Regulation of Picornavirus Tropism
09:05

MicroRNA-based Regulation of Picornavirus Tropism

Published on: February 6, 2017

Identifying Targets of Human microRNAs with the LightSwitch Luciferase Assay System using 3'UTR-reporter Constructs and a microRNA Mimic in Adherent Cells
07:19

Identifying Targets of Human microRNAs with the LightSwitch Luciferase Assay System using 3'UTR-reporter Constructs and a microRNA Mimic in Adherent Cells

Published on: September 28, 2011

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression via translational repression and mRNA degradation.
  • miRNA function is linked to differentiation, homeostasis, and various diseases.
  • Synthetic miRNA inhibitors, chemically modified oligonucleotides, are used to block miRNA activity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically investigate the impact of target site mismatches on synthetic miRNA inhibitor efficacy.
  • To determine how the position of mismatches influences inhibitor activity.
  • To compare the importance of different regions within the inhibitor for its function.

Main Methods:

  • Designed and synthesized panels of miRNA inhibitors with two-nucleotide mismatches.
  • Tested inhibitor activity against three specific microRNAs (miR-21, miR-22, miR-122).
  • Analyzed the effect of varying mismatch positions on inhibitor performance.

Main Results:

  • Inhibitor function varied significantly based on the position of mismatches within the target site.
  • The seed region (nucleotides 2-7) complementarity is critical for inhibitor activity, mirroring natural miRNA recognition.
  • Base pairing in a secondary, 3' region also plays a significant role in determining inhibitor efficacy.

Conclusions:

  • Natural miRNA target recognition principles, like seed region complementarity, are vital for synthetic inhibitor design.
  • The 3' region of synthetic inhibitors is as important as the seed region for efficacy.
  • Understanding these structural requirements will improve the accuracy of interpreting experiments using synthetic miRNA inhibitors.