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Gregory J. Hannon, Michele A. Cleary, and Despina Siolas answers a
few questions about this month's fast breaking paper in the field of
Biology & Biochemistry.
From
•>>October 2005
Field:
Biology & Biochemistry
Article Title: Synthetic shRNAs as potent RNAi triggers
Authors: Siolas,
D;Lerner, C;Burchard, J;Ge, W;Linsley,
PS;Paddison, PJ;Hannon,
GJ;Cleary, MA
Journal: NAT BIOTECHNOL
Volume: 23
Page: 227-231
Year: FEB 2005
* Cold Spring Harbor Lab, Watson Sch Biol Sci, 1 Bungtown Rd, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724 USA.
* Cold Spring Harbor Lab, Watson Sch Biol Sci, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724 USA.
* SUNY Stony Brook, Genet Program, Stony Brook, NY 11794 USA.
* Rosetta Inpharmat LLC, Seattle, WA 98109 USA.
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 Why
do you think your paper is highly cited?
The discovery of RNA interference has completely transformed
the investigation of gene function in several different eukaryotic
systems, including mammalian cells. This fairly nascent technology
has very rapidly gained widespread use in laboratories addressing
a broad range of biological questions. Our paper provides a
possible improved methodology for provoking an RNAi response in
mammalian cells, an insight that may improve the probability of
success for many investigators.
Does
it describe a new discovery or a new methodology that's useful to
others?
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“...this
process allows scientists to examine the effects
on a cell or an organism of eliminating or
decreasing the function of a chosen gene.”
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The methodologies described in the paper have the potential
to impact studies in laboratories researching many areas of
biology. In essence, they are derived from our increasing
understanding of RNAi biochemistry and, therefore, promise to
greatly facilitate the use of this pathway as a tool for gene
silencing, more so than random experimental tweaks.
Could
you summarize the significance of your paper in layman's terms?
RNAi is used broadly in biological research and in the
pharmaceutical industry. In short, this process allows
scientists to examine the effects on a cell or an organism of
eliminating or decreasing the function of a chosen gene. There
is also a great deal of promise for using RNAi directly as a
therapeutic approach. Our paper provides new insights on how to
use this approach more effectively.
How
did you become involved in this research?
Our laboratories have been working toward understanding the
mechanisms of RNA interference for several years. We have also
worked to apply knowledge gained from those studies toward
improving RNAi as a research tool. This paper represents another
step along that continuing path.
What
are the social or political implications of your research?
RNAi provides a tool that can expedite the validation of
novel drug targets. Essentially, the hope is that this process
will significantly streamline drug discovery and increase the
number of drug candidates in pharmaceutical pipelines. Improved
methods for RNAi will be essential to achieving such success.
Gregory J. Hannon
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Watson School of Biological Sciences
Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA
Despina Siolas
SUNY Stony Brook School of Medicine
Stony Brook, New York, USA
Michele A. Cleary
Rosetta Inpharmatics, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Merck and Co., Inc.
Seattle, Washington, USA
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ESI Special Topics,
October 2005
Citing URL - http://www.esi-topics.com/fbp/2005/october05-Cleary_Hannon_Siolas.html
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