How can RNA interference be used as a life science research tool?
RNAi has become a powerful tool for rapidly evaluating the biological impact of suppressing the expression of an individual gene. Specific applications include the following: Mechanism of action studies Universal gene expression analysis tools, such as reverse-transcription qPCR (RT-qPCR) arrays, and hybridization-based microarrays, enable the rapid identification of gene expression events that are linked to disease states or treatment regimens. These types of studies are categorized as reverse genetics approaches. RNAi has become a tool of choice for validating the functional relevance of the gene products identified in such reverse genetics screens. Drug target validation studies Once a putative drug target has been identified via chemical, biochemical, molecular biological, or cell-based screening, RNAi technology has become a widely-used tool for subsequent drug target validation studies. Perform high throughput, genome-wide functional screening siRNA libraries, in combination with
