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

RNA Interference01:23

RNA Interference

27.6K
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...
27.6K
Experimental RNAi02:15

Experimental RNAi

7.2K
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...
7.2K
siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs02:30

siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs

18.2K
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...
18.2K
Types of RNA01:20

Types of RNA

8.7K
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...
8.7K
Types of RNA01:23

Types of RNA

72.3K
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...
72.3K
piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs02:57

piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs

7.4K
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...
7.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Triploidy is prominent in the duckweed Lemna minor complex.

Communications biology·2026
Same author

RiboCop surveils pre-rRNA processing by Dicer in cellular quiescence.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same author

Author Correction: MaizeCODE reveals bi-directionally expressed enhancers that harbor molecular signatures of maize domestication.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

MaizeCODE reveals bi-directionally expressed enhancers that harbor molecular signatures of maize domestication.

Nature communications·2024
Same author

Clr4<sup>SUV39H1</sup> ubiquitination and non-coding RNA mediate transcriptional silencing of heterochromatin via Swi6 phase separation.

Nature communications·2024
Same author

Pseudouridine guides germline small RNA transport and epigenetic inheritance.

Nature structural & molecular biology·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Dual CRISPR-Interference Strategy for Targeting Synthetic Lethal Interactions Between Non-Coding RNAs in Cancer Cells
07:23

Dual CRISPR-Interference Strategy for Targeting Synthetic Lethal Interactions Between Non-Coding RNAs in Cancer Cells

Published on: May 30, 2025

991

Conserved chromosomal functions of RNA interference.

Michael J Gutbrod1, Robert A Martienssen2,3

  • 1Watson School of Biological Sciences, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA.

Nature Reviews. Genetics
|February 14, 2020
PubMed
Summary

RNA interference (RNAi) proteins have novel roles in chromosome segregation and DNA repair. These functions are highly conserved across eukaryotes, offering evolutionary insights into RNAi machinery.

More Related Videos

Chromatin Isolation by RNA Purification ChIRP
11:09

Chromatin Isolation by RNA Purification ChIRP

Published on: March 25, 2012

88.0K
DNA Vector-based RNA Interference to Study Gene Function in Cancer
13:10

DNA Vector-based RNA Interference to Study Gene Function in Cancer

Published on: June 4, 2012

20.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Dual CRISPR-Interference Strategy for Targeting Synthetic Lethal Interactions Between Non-Coding RNAs in Cancer Cells
07:23

Dual CRISPR-Interference Strategy for Targeting Synthetic Lethal Interactions Between Non-Coding RNAs in Cancer Cells

Published on: May 30, 2025

991
Chromatin Isolation by RNA Purification ChIRP
11:09

Chromatin Isolation by RNA Purification ChIRP

Published on: March 25, 2012

88.0K
DNA Vector-based RNA Interference to Study Gene Function in Cancer
13:10

DNA Vector-based RNA Interference to Study Gene Function in Cancer

Published on: June 4, 2012

20.9K

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • RNA interference (RNAi) is known for gene regulation and transposon control.
  • Emerging evidence implicates RNAi proteins (e.g., Argonaute, Dicer) in chromosome functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the lesser-known roles of RNAi components in eukaryotic cells.
  • To investigate the evolutionary conservation of these novel RNAi functions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on RNAi protein functions.
  • Comparative analysis of RNAi roles across eukaryotic species.

Main Results:

  • RNAi machinery guides chromatin modification for chromosome segregation in mitosis and meiosis.
  • RNAi components regulate chromosomal dosage and participate in DNA damage resolution.
  • These chromosome-related functions are more conserved than microRNA processing.

Conclusions:

  • RNAi proteins possess conserved functions beyond gene silencing, impacting chromosome integrity.
  • These findings provide a broader understanding of RNAi evolution and its fundamental roles in eukaryotes.