Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

RNA Interference

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...

siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs

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...

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...

Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens

Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens

The immune system's response to viral infections is a complex and coordinated process involving natural killer (NK) cells, T cell-mediated responses, and antibody-mediated responses.
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...

Types of RNA

Types of RNA

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...

Nucleic Acid Structure

Nucleic Acid Structure

The pentose sugar in DNA is deoxyribose, while in RNA the pentose sugar is ribose. The difference between the sugars is the presence of the hydroxyl group on the ribose's second carbon and a hydrogen on the deoxyribose's second carbon. The phosphate residue attaches to the hydroxyl group of the 5′ carbon of one sugar and the hydroxyl group of the 3′ carbon of the sugar of the next nucleotide, which forms a 5′ to 3′ phosphodiester linkage.
DNA Structure
DNA...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

RNA-DNA Fusomer Fibers With Customizable Physicochemical, Mechanical, and Biological Properties for Next-Generation Therapeutics.

Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2026

Same author

Human neutrophilic cells express anti-inflammatory EBI3 in response to Neisseria meningitidis.

Journal of neuroimmunology·2026

Same author

The C-type lectin receptor mincle is functionally expressed by murine bone cells and can mediate inflammatory osteoblast responses to Staphylococcus aureus.

Bone·2026

Same author

Corrigendum to "The C-type lectin receptor mincle is functionally expressed by murine bone cells and can mediate inflammatory osteoblast responses to Staphylococcus aureus" [Bone volume 203 February 2026, 117689].

Bone·2026

Same author

Data Sieving for Scalable Real-Time Multichannel Nanopore Sensing.

ArXiv·2026

Same author

Spatially Organized DNA-Templated Silver Nanoclusters as Potent Antimicrobial Agents for ESKAPE Infections.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 19, 2025

Confocal Imaging of Double-Stranded RNA and Pattern Recognition Receptors in Negative-Sense RNA Virus Infection

Confocal Imaging of Double-Stranded RNA and Pattern Recognition Receptors in Negative-Sense RNA Virus Infection

Published on: January 26, 2019

Discriminating Immunorecognition Pathways Activated by RNA Nanostructures.

Leyla Danai¹, M Brittany Johnson², Kirill A Afonin³

¹Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA.

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

|August 12, 2023

Summary

Nucleic acid nanoparticles (NANPs) offer tunable immunomodulatory properties for therapeutic applications. Modifying NANP composition enhances stability and impacts cellular targeting for improved immune response induction.

Keywords:

DNA analogs NANPs Pattern recognition receptors Retinoic acid inducible gene-1 Targeted intracellular delivery Therapeutic nucleic acids

More Related Videos

Sequence-specific and Selective Recognition of Double-stranded RNAs over Single-stranded RNAs by Chemically Modified Peptide Nucleic Acids

Sequence-specific and Selective Recognition of Double-stranded RNAs over Single-stranded RNAs by Chemically Modified Peptide Nucleic Acids

Published on: September 21, 2017

Identification of RNAs Engaged in Direct RNA-RNA Interaction with a Long Non-Coding RNA

Identification of RNAs Engaged in Direct RNA-RNA Interaction with a Long Non-Coding RNA

Published on: July 9, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 19, 2025

Confocal Imaging of Double-Stranded RNA and Pattern Recognition Receptors in Negative-Sense RNA Virus Infection

Confocal Imaging of Double-Stranded RNA and Pattern Recognition Receptors in Negative-Sense RNA Virus Infection

Published on: January 26, 2019

Sequence-specific and Selective Recognition of Double-stranded RNAs over Single-stranded RNAs by Chemically Modified Peptide Nucleic Acids

Sequence-specific and Selective Recognition of Double-stranded RNAs over Single-stranded RNAs by Chemically Modified Peptide Nucleic Acids

Published on: September 21, 2017

Identification of RNAs Engaged in Direct RNA-RNA Interaction with a Long Non-Coding RNA

Identification of RNAs Engaged in Direct RNA-RNA Interaction with a Long Non-Coding RNA

Published on: July 9, 2021

Area of Science:

Biotechnology
Immunology
Nanomedicine

Background:

Nucleic acid nanoparticles (NANPs) are being explored for their immunomodulatory capabilities.
Their self-assembling nature allows for tailored design to induce specific immune responses.
NANPs show promise for therapeutic applications due to targeted and tunable properties.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate how altering NANP composition affects their stability and immunomodulatory functions.
To explore the impact of chemical analogs on thermodynamic and enzymatic stability.
To understand how composition influences cellular mechanisms and targeting efficiency.

Main Methods:

Design and synthesis of NANPs with varying chemical compositions.
Substitution of RNA strands with different chemical analogs.
Assessment of thermodynamic and enzymatic stability.
Evaluation of cellular mechanisms and subcellular targeting.

Main Results:

Chemical modification of NANPs, specifically substituting RNA strands with analogs, increased thermodynamic and enzymatic stability.
Altering NANP composition influenced the cellular mechanisms initiating immune responses.
Compositional changes impacted the subcellular targeting and delivery efficiency of NANPs.

Conclusions:

NANP composition is a critical factor in enhancing stability and controlling immunomodulatory effects.
Tailoring NANP chemistry offers a strategy to optimize therapeutic efficacy and delivery.
Further research into NANP functionalization holds potential for advanced nanomedicine.