DNA-directed RNA interference

<p>DNA-directed RNA interference (ddRNAi) is a <a href="/facts/Gene_silencing/mh0JYYPD">gene-silencing</a> technique that utilizes <a href="/facts/DNA_construct/Ww5pxHRc">DNA constructs</a> to activate a cell's <a href="/facts/Endogeny_(biology)/DFkSLkRI">endogenous</a> <a href="/facts/RNA_interference/oJRWBXJH">RNA interference</a> (RNAi) pathways. DNA constructs are designed to <a href="/facts/Gene_expression/alCPohLR">express</a> self-complementary <a href="/facts/Double-stranded_RNA/HxPeNfNj">double-stranded RNAs</a>, typically <a href="/facts/Short_hairpin_RNA/RAqm3gpI">short-hairpin RNAs</a> (shRNA), that bring about the silencing of a target <a href="/facts/Gene/e1swwPY6">gene</a> or genes once processed. Any <a href="/facts/RNA/HxPeNfNj">RNA</a>, including endogenous <a href="/facts/Messenger_RNA/oUL6qxQn">messenger RNA</a> (mRNAs) or <a href="/facts/RNA_virus/qwXPeATD">viral RNAs</a>, can be silenced by designing constructs to express double-stranded RNA complementary to the desired <a href="/facts/MRNA/oUL6qxQn">mRNA</a> target.
</p><p>This mechanism has been recently demonstrated to work therapeutically to silence disease-causing genes across a range of disease models, including <a href="/facts/Viral_disease/F1Tth6qP">viral diseases</a> such as <a href="/facts/HIV/ulY2rgzu">HIV</a>, <a href="/facts/Hepatitis_B/qqPTEY3p">hepatitis B</a> or <a href="/facts/Hepatitis_C/kwb7IIht">hepatitis C</a>, and diseases associated with altered expression of endogenous genes such as drug-resistant <a href="/facts/Non-small_cell_lung_cancer/9T47knRp">lung cancer</a>, <a href="/facts/Neuropathic_pain/PAGm7Vhd">neuropathic pain</a>, <a href="/facts/Stage_4_cancer/d2cFsCtq">advanced cancer</a>, and <a href="/facts/Retinitis_pigmentosa/eIbETPzm">retinitis pigmentosa</a>.
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DNA-directed RNA interference open-in-new

DNA-directed RNA interference