University of California and San Francisco scientists have crafted a method for the rapid identification of large numbers of short hairpin RNA that has the ability to silence gene expression through RNA interference. The method has so far been utilized by the UCSF research team to create a library of 22,000 shRNAs for approximately 60 human genes. These genes provide scientists with a powerful tool for the study of genetically based diseases such as HIV, Parkinson’s disease and cancer. The UCSF research team is progressively accumulating shRNAs for the library with the ultimate goal of creating a complete set for the entire human genome.
Until recently, the process of finding shRNAs was not effective. The new method produces approximately 10 times the volume than that of the conventional method. This enables researchers to screen for RNA interference much faster at a lesser cost.
Though many diseases have been linked to specific genes that are either mutated or activated to cause illness, the process of how the genes actually cause illness is still unclear. With the use of shRNA to deactivate genes, scientists can study specific genetic function and start to identify treatments to change it. Further research in the production and utilization of shRNAs could lead to the ultimate goal of manipulating the gene expression of genetic diseases.
Until recently, the process of finding shRNAs was not effective. The new method produces approximately 10 times the volume than that of the conventional method. This enables researchers to screen for RNA interference much faster at a lesser cost.
Though many diseases have been linked to specific genes that are either mutated or activated to cause illness, the process of how the genes actually cause illness is still unclear. With the use of shRNA to deactivate genes, scientists can study specific genetic function and start to identify treatments to change it. Further research in the production and utilization of shRNAs could lead to the ultimate goal of manipulating the gene expression of genetic diseases.
Journal reference:
Bassik et al. Rapid creation and quantitative monitoring of high coverage
shRNA libraries. Nature Methods, online: 17 May 2009, In print June 2009.
Accessed 23/5/2009. Available:
http://www.nature.com/nmeth/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nmeth.1330.html
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