Gene expression: long-term gene silencing by RNAi.

N.L. Vastenhouw, K. Brunschwig, K.L. Okihara, F. Muller, M. Tijsterman, R.H.A. Plasterk

Research output: Contribution to journal/periodicalArticleScientificpeer-review

226 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Small RNA molecules participate in a variety of activities in the cell: in a process known as RNA interference (RNAi), double-stranded RNA triggers the degradation of messenger RNA that has a matching sequence; the small RNA intermediates of this process can also modify gene expression in the nucleus. Here we show that a single episode of RNAi in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans can induce transcriptional silencing effects that are inherited indefinitely in the absence of the original trigger. Our findings may prove useful in the ongoing development of RNAi to treat disease.
Original languageEnglish
JournalNature
Volume442
Issue number7105
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2006

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