Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 3, 2026
09:06
RNA Interference in Ticks
Published on: January 20, 2011
18.6K
A RNA producing DNA hydrogel as a platform for a high performance RNA interference system.
Jaejung Song1, Minhyuk Lee2, Taeyoung Kim2
1School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Cheongam Ro, Nam Gu, 37673, Pohang, South Korea.
Nature Communications
|October 20, 2018
Summary
A novel DNA hydrogel, termed I-gel, produces small interfering RNA (siRNA) within cells to efficiently silence target genes. This platform offers a superior RNA interference (RNAi) system compared to traditional methods.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Molecular Biology
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- RNA interference (RNAi) is a natural biological process for gene silencing.
- Current RNAi delivery methods face challenges in efficiency and stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a DNA hydrogel capable of producing small interfering RNA (siRNA) for enhanced gene silencing.
- To evaluate the efficiency and stability of this novel RNAi-exhibiting gel (I-gel) in vitro and in live cells.
Main Methods:
- Constructed a DNA hydrogel (I-gel) scaffold incorporating a plasmid for siRNA transcription.
- Assessed RNAi efficiency using green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression assays and quantified RNA production.
- Compared I-gel performance against free plasmids and Lipofectamine-complexed plasmids in live cells.
Main Results:
- The I-gel demonstrated significantly enhanced plasmid stability, leading to an 8-fold increase in transcription efficiency compared to free plasmids.
- Confirmed effective interference with GFP expression in live cells.
- The I-gel exhibited superior RNAi effects compared to free plasmids or those complexed with Lipofectamine.
Conclusions:
- The developed I-gel is an efficient nanoscale hydrogel platform for in-cell siRNA production and gene silencing.
- This technology offers a promising advancement for developing more effective RNAi systems.
Related Concept Videos
01:23RNA Interference
28.1K
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...
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...
28.1K
00:58Eukaryotic RNA Polymerases
27.1K
RNA Polymerase (RNAP) is conserved in all animals, with bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic RNAPs sharing significant sequence, structural, and functional similarities. Among the three eukaryotic RNAPs, RNA Polymerase II is most similar to bacterial RNAP in terms of both structural organization and folding topologies of the enzyme subunits. However, these similarities are not reflected in their mechanism of action.
All three eukaryotic RNAPs require specific transcription factors, of which the...
All three eukaryotic RNAPs require specific transcription factors, of which the...
27.1K
00:43Bacterial RNA Polymerase
32.8K
Unlike eukaryotes, bacteria use a single RNA Polymerase (RNAP) to transcribe all genes. The different subunits of bacterial RNAPhave distinct functions. The multisubunit structure of the bacterial RNAP helps the enzyme to maintain catalytic function, facilitate assembly, interact with DNA and RNA, and self-regulate its activity.
In most genes, the transcription site is a single base present upstream of the coding sequence. Though RNAP is a catalytically efficient enzyme, it does not recognize...
In most genes, the transcription site is a single base present upstream of the coding sequence. Though RNAP is a catalytically efficient enzyme, it does not recognize...
32.8K
02:23RNA Editing
9.9K
RNA editing is a post-transcriptional modification where a precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA) nucleotide sequence is changed by base insertion, deletion, or modification. The extent of RNA editing varies from a few hundred bases, in mitochondrial DNA of trypanosomes, to a just single base, in nuclear genes of mammals. Even a single base change in the pre-mRNA can convert a codon for one amino acid into the codon for another amino acid or a stop codon. This type of re-coding can significantly affect the...
9.9K
01:53RNA Stability
35.7K
Intact DNA strands can be found in fossils, while scientists sometimes struggle to keep RNA intact under laboratory conditions. The structural variations between RNA and DNA underlie the differences in their stability and longevity. Because DNA is double-stranded, it is inherently more stable. The single-stranded structure of RNA is less stable but also more flexible and can form weak internal bonds. Additionally, most RNAs in the cell are relatively short, while DNA can be up to 250 million...
35.7K
01:23RNA Structure
79.1K
Overview
The basic structure of RNA consists of a five-carbon sugar and one of four nitrogenous bases. Although most RNA is single-stranded, it can form complex secondary and tertiary structures. Such structures play essential roles in the regulation of transcription and translation.
Different Types of RNA Have the Same Basic Structure
There are three main types of ribonucleic acid (RNA): messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). All three RNA types consist of a...
The basic structure of RNA consists of a five-carbon sugar and one of four nitrogenous bases. Although most RNA is single-stranded, it can form complex secondary and tertiary structures. Such structures play essential roles in the regulation of transcription and translation.
Different Types of RNA Have the Same Basic Structure
There are three main types of ribonucleic acid (RNA): messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). All three RNA types consist of a...
79.1K