RNA interference (RNAi), a powerful method of repressing gene expression using small RNA hairpins, has brought significant advances in biomedical research, particularly for perturbing gene function to dissect genotype-phenotype relationships. Due to the proliferation of RNAi-based tools and technology, as well as RNAi’s unique advantages in particular applications requiring transient gene knockdown, RNAi remains an important tool in the arsenal of a modern biologist.  

While the development of new technologies, like CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing, may eclipse RNAi’s utility for specific applications, this important technology remains widely used and highly applicable. RNAi is a double-stranded RNA-mediated mechanism evolved to regulate gene expression to combat viral DNA post-transcriptionally. RNAi works by processing double-stranded RNA hairpins into small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) or micro-RNAs (miRNAs). These small RNAs then bind to homologous mRNAs and induce their degradation through the recruitment of the RNA induced silencing complex (RISC).   

We provide a number of tools for both studying endogenous miRNAs, as well as monitoring the efficacy of synthetic RNAi with our siRNA and RNAi monitoring kits. Check out the product pages for details.