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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...
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...
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...
piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs02:57

piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs

PIWI-interacting RNAs, or piRNAs, are the most abundant short non-coding RNAs. More than 20,000 genes have been found in humans that code for piRNAs while only 2000 genes have been found for miRNAs. piRNAs can act at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels and have a vital role in silencing transposable elements present in germ cells. They are also involved in epigenetic silencing and activation. Previously, they were thought to function only in germ cells but new evidence suggests...
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 11, 2026

Methods to Investigate the Regulatory Role of Small RNAs and Ribosomal Occupancy of Plasmodium falciparum
10:22

Methods to Investigate the Regulatory Role of Small RNAs and Ribosomal Occupancy of Plasmodium falciparum

Published on: December 4, 2015

RNAi in Plasmodium.

Ann-Kristin Mueller, Christiane Hammerschmidt-Kamper, Annette Kaiser1

  • 1University of Duisburg-Essen, Medical Research Centre, Institute of Pharmacogenetics, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147 Essen, Germany. annette.kaiser@uk-essen.de.

Current Pharmaceutical Design
|May 25, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful gene study tool. Challenges remain in applying RNAi for Plasmodium parasite research and potential clinical uses.

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Last Updated: May 11, 2026

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Parasitology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • RNA interference (RNAi) is a vital tool for gene function studies and drug target validation across many organisms.
  • Protozoan parasites, including Plasmodium, exhibit divergent RNAi pathway enzyme representation.
  • Key RNAi genes like Dicer and Argonaute are notably absent in Plasmodium and Leishmania.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the challenges and future prospects of RNAi as a tool for gene function studies in Plasmodium.
  • To explore the potential clinical applications of RNAi against Plasmodium infections.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on RNAi pathways in protozoan parasites.
  • Analysis of gene identification and functional studies related to RNAi in Plasmodium.
  • Discussion of non-canonical RNAi mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Divergent evolution of RNAi pathway components in protozoan parasites.
  • Absence of canonical RNAi genes (Dicer, Argonaute) in Plasmodium and Leishmania.
  • Evidence suggesting the presence of non-canonical RNAi pathways in Plasmodium.

Conclusions:

  • Developing RNAi as a research tool for Plasmodium faces significant hurdles due to pathway divergence.
  • Further research into non-canonical RNAi pathways is crucial for advancing Plasmodium functional genomics.
  • RNAi holds potential for future clinical applications against Plasmodium, pending further development.