Small interfering RNA
Small interfering RNA
Small interfering RNA (siRNA), pronounced /sma:l ɪnˈtɪərɪŋ aɪɑːrˈeɪ/, is a class of double-stranded RNA molecules, 20-25 base pairs in length. siRNA is involved in the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway, where it interferes with the expression of specific genes with complementary nucleotide sequences by degrading mRNA after transcription, preventing translation.
Etymology
The term "Small interfering RNA" was coined due to the molecule's small size and its role in RNA interference. The abbreviation "siRNA" is derived from the initial letters of "Small interfering RNA".
Function
siRNAs function by silencing the activity of specific genes. They do this by binding to RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), which contains enzymes that can cleave and degrade messenger RNAs that match the siRNA sequence. This prevents the mRNA from being translated into protein, effectively silencing the gene.
Related Terms
- RNA interference (RNAi): A biological process in which RNA molecules inhibit gene expression or translation, by neutralizing targeted mRNA molecules.
- MicroRNA (miRNA): A small non-coding RNA molecule that functions in RNA silencing and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression.
- RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC): A multiprotein complex, essentially composed of siRNAs along with other proteins, that incorporates one strand of a siRNA duplex and uses it as a template for recognizing complementary mRNA.
- Messenger RNA (mRNA): A large family of RNA molecules that convey genetic information from DNA to the ribosome, where they specify the amino acid sequence of the protein products of gene expression.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Small interfering RNA
- Wikipedia's article - Small interfering RNA
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