How does siRNA therapy work?
siRNAs work by degrading mRNA in a highly specific manner.
Once an mRNA sequence of interest is known, the siRNA molecule can be designed with a complementary sequence that is able to bind to the mRNA and cause its destruction.
Without the mRNA, protein synthesis is effectively stopped..
How does siRNA work a level biology?
siRNA are short segments of RNA in the cell cytoplasm that can bind to mRNA and prevent a protein from being made. The way that small RNAs disable mRNA and prevent protein production is called RNA interference, or RNAi.
How does siRNA affect gene expression?
Off-target silencing effect The introduction of siRNA can result in off-target effect, i.e. the suppression of genes other than the desired gene target, leading to dangerous mutations of gene expression and unexpected consequences [157]. … This mechanism is similar to the microRNA (miRNA) gene silencing effect.
What is the function of siRNA?
Small interfering RNA (siRNA) are small pieces of double-stranded (ds) RNA, usually about 21 nucleotides long, with 3′ (pronounced three-prime) overhangs (two nucleotides) at each end that can be used to “interfere” with the translation of proteins by binding to and promoting the degradation of messenger RNA (mRNA) at …