RNAi Facility
RNA interference (RNAi) is a natural regulatory mechanism conserved among many organisms in which double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) directs the post-transcriptional silencing of target genes in a sequence-specific manner. RNAi may also be employed as a powerful genetic analysis tool for the efficient silencing of target genes through the exogenous delivery of dsRNAs. Delivery of synthetic short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) or plasmid DNAs encoding short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) into mammalian cells has been shown to elicit specific and robust RNAi-mediated gene silencing, or 'knock-down'.
The IGSP and Center for RNA Biology have established an RNAi Facility for the application of RNA interference (RNAi) technologies for mammalian functional genomics.
- RNAi expertise: The RNAi Facility serves as the focal point of RNAi technology development and expertise for the Duke University and Medical Center research community, and will work to advance and apply gene silencing technologies to a broad range of research programs.
- RNAi reagents: The RNAi Facility has acquired a human shRNA library as a whole genome resource for RNAi studies. Expressed shRNAs enable researchers to perform transient, long-term, and in vivo RNAi studies. Through the RNAi Core, Duke investigators can request shRNA clones representing a gene or genes of interest to place in their functional assays.
- Genome-wide RNAi studies: The availability of RNAi libraries targeting entire genomes or large subsets provides the opportunity to conduct loss-of-function genetic screens and selections in mammalian cells. The RNAi Core is building the infrastructure necessary to conduct genome-wide RNAi studies, and will work with researchers to develop, evaluate, and implement cell-based screening and/or selection studies.
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