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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

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siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs

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Small interfering RNAs (siRNA)

Small interfering RNAs (siRNA)

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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 17, 2026

Meiotic Spindle Assessment in Mouse Oocytes by siRNA-mediated Silencing

Meiotic Spindle Assessment in Mouse Oocytes by siRNA-mediated Silencing

Published on: October 11, 2015

RNAi-based methods for gene silencing in mouse oocytes.

Paula Stein¹, Petr Svoboda, Richard M Schultz

¹Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA, steinpau@sas.upenn.edu.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)

|November 10, 2012

Summary

This study details a protocol for using long double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to silence genes in mouse oocytes. This method leverages the robust endogenous RNA interference (RNAi) pathway present in these cells for efficient gene knockdown.

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Last Updated: May 17, 2026

Meiotic Spindle Assessment in Mouse Oocytes by siRNA-mediated Silencing

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Published on: October 11, 2015

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Generation of Genetically Modified Mice through the Microinjection of Oocytes

Generation of Genetically Modified Mice through the Microinjection of Oocytes

Published on: June 15, 2017

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Genetics
Developmental Biology

Background:

RNA interference (RNAi) is a conserved gene-silencing mechanism.
Long double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) initiate RNAi by generating small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs).
Mouse oocytes possess a strong endogenous RNAi pathway and lack interferon response to dsRNA.

Purpose of the Study:

To describe a protocol for preparing and microinjecting long dsRNA into mouse oocytes.
To enable efficient, sequence-specific gene silencing in mouse oocytes using RNAi.

Main Methods:

Preparation of long dsRNA for microinjection.
Microinjection of long dsRNA into mouse oocytes.
Utilizing the endogenous RNAi pathway for gene silencing.

Main Results:

Successful preparation of long dsRNA for microinjection.
Efficient gene silencing in mouse oocytes following dsRNA microinjection.
Demonstration of sequence-specific gene knockdown.

Conclusions:

Microinjection of long dsRNA is an effective method for gene silencing in mouse oocytes.
The robust endogenous RNAi pathway in mouse oocytes facilitates this process.
This protocol provides a valuable tool for studying gene function in oocytes.