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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

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...

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Updated: Sep 16, 2025

Author Spotlight: RNAi Inheritance and ChIP in C. elegans

Author Spotlight: RNAi Inheritance and ChIP in C. elegans

Published on: May 5, 2023

A genetic framework for RNAi inheritance in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Jan Schreier¹, Lizaveta Pshanichnaya^1,2, Fridolin Kielisch³

¹Biology of Non-coding RNA Group, Institute of Molecular Biology, Ackermannweg 4, 55128, Mainz, Germany.

|July 7, 2025

Summary

Inherited RNA interference (RNAi) in C. elegans relies on cytoplasmic Argonaute WAGO-3 for transmission between generations. Nuclear HRDE-1 establishes RNAi, while WAGO-3 ensures its inheritance, with ZNFX-1 activating it in offspring.

Keywords:

C. elegans Argonaute Maternal Inheritance Paternal Inheritance RNAi

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Last Updated: Sep 16, 2025

Author Spotlight: RNAi Inheritance and ChIP in C. elegans

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Published on: May 5, 2023

RNAi Screening to Identify Postembryonic Phenotypes in C. elegans

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Large-scale Gene Knockdown in C. elegans Using dsRNA Feeding Libraries to Generate Robust Loss-of-function Phenotypes

Published on: September 25, 2013

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Genetics
Developmental Biology

Background:

RNA interference (RNAi) is a conserved gene regulation mechanism.
RNAi can be inherited across generations in *Caenorhabditis elegans*.
The precise roles and timing of factors involved in RNAi inheritance remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

To establish a hierarchy of factors involved in RNAi inheritance.
To elucidate the distinct functions of nuclear and cytoplasmic Argonaute proteins in RNAi inheritance.
To identify factors mediating the transmission and activation of inherited RNAi.

Main Methods:

Development of a novel RNAi inheritance assay in *C. elegans*.
Genetic analysis of previously identified RNAi inheritance factors.
Characterization of Argonaute proteins (HRDE-1, WAGO-3) and RNA helicase (ZNFX-1) functions.

Main Results:

Nuclear HRDE-1 is essential for RNAi establishment but not inheritance.
Cytoplasmic WAGO-3 is the sole essential factor for germline inheritance of RNAi.
ZNFX-1 facilitates the activation of inherited WAGO-3-mediated silencing in offspring.

Conclusions:

A cycle exists where nuclear and cytoplasmic Argonaute proteins cooperate for RNAi inheritance.
HRDE-1 establishes silencing, while WAGO-3 transmits it via gametes.
ZNFX-1 acts downstream of inherited WAGO-3 to mediate silencing in progeny.