Examining the Rna Interference Mechanism in the Dpy-13 Gene in C. Elegans Through Feeding
Examining the RNA Interference Mechanism in the dpy-13 Gene in C. Elegans Through Feeding
Mehdi Misto
Lab: Monday 1:00 – 4:50 PM
11 December 2012
Introduction: RNA interference, or RNAi, is a biological process in which RNA molecules reduce the gene expression of an organism. This is done typically by causing the destruction of specific mRNA molecules. RNAs are direct products of genes, these small RNAs can bind to other mRNA molecules to either increase or decrease their activity like in the example of preventing an mRNA from producing a protein. There are two types of RNA molecules that are central to RNAi, these molecules are, micro RNA (miRNA) and small interfering RNA (siRNA).
The RNAi mechanism is found in many different eukaryotes and it is started by an enzyme names Dicer. Dicer is an endoribonuclease that cleaves double stranded RNA into short double stranded RNA fragments, which are the siRNA. Each of these new siRNAs are then unwound into two different single stranded ssRNAs. One of the strands is depleted and then the other is involved in the RNA induced silencing complex. RNAi is a very valuable in research. This is because double stranded RNAs that are introduced into the cell can induce suppression of some specific genes of interest. Andrew Fire and Craig C. Mello’s work on RNAi in C. Elegans revolutionized RNAi, and because of it the usefulness of it has increased substantially. RNAi can be easily introduced into the C. Elegans through feeding; feeding the worms the bacteria that expresses double stranded RNA that corresponds to the gene that is being targeted can do this. In this experiment, to introduce the C. Elegans to the RNAi, the worms were first transferred to a plate containing the IPTG. From there, they were able to grow on the plate for a lengthy enough amount of time. Once they grew on the plates, a microscope was used, specifically; a binocular dissection microscope was used to get familiar with the appearance and behavior of the
Mehdi Misto
Lab: Monday 1:00 – 4:50 PM
11 December 2012
Introduction: RNA interference, or RNAi, is a biological process in which RNA molecules reduce the gene expression of an organism. This is done typically by causing the destruction of specific mRNA molecules. RNAs are direct products of genes, these small RNAs can bind to other mRNA molecules to either increase or decrease their activity like in the example of preventing an mRNA from producing a protein. There are two types of RNA molecules that are central to RNAi, these molecules are, micro RNA (miRNA) and small interfering RNA (siRNA).
The RNAi mechanism is found in many different eukaryotes and it is started by an enzyme names Dicer. Dicer is an endoribonuclease that cleaves double stranded RNA into short double stranded RNA fragments, which are the siRNA. Each of these new siRNAs are then unwound into two different single stranded ssRNAs. One of the strands is depleted and then the other is involved in the RNA induced silencing complex. RNAi is a very valuable in research. This is because double stranded RNAs that are introduced into the cell can induce suppression of some specific genes of interest. Andrew Fire and Craig C. Mello’s work on RNAi in C. Elegans revolutionized RNAi, and because of it the usefulness of it has increased substantially. RNAi can be easily introduced into the C. Elegans through feeding; feeding the worms the bacteria that expresses double stranded RNA that corresponds to the gene that is being targeted can do this. In this experiment, to introduce the C. Elegans to the RNAi, the worms were first transferred to a plate containing the IPTG. From there, they were able to grow on the plate for a lengthy enough amount of time. Once they grew on the plates, a microscope was used, specifically; a binocular dissection microscope was used to get familiar with the appearance and behavior of the
References: "Caenorhabditis Genome Sequencing and Analysis at the Sanger Institute." Caenorhabditis Genomics. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2012. . "Introduction to C. Elegans." Introduction to C. Elegans. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2012. Lewis, Susan K. "The RNAi Cure." PBS. PBS, 01 July 2005. Web. 05 Dec. 2012. Pierce, Benjamin A. Genetics: A Conceptual Approach. New York: W.H. Freeman, 2012. Print. "Silencing Genomes." Silencing Genomes. DNA Learning Center, n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2012. .