RNA Interference (
RNAi) is utilized in many eukaryotic cells including those found in mammals, which enables protein complex called RISC associate with double-stranded RNA molecules and activate sequence-specific
gene silencing (target mRNA degradation).
The chain of reactions involved in cells in this manner enables DNA to be transcripted into RNA, which is then translated into proteins. RNAi research is a valuable process in gene expression studies not only for the studies using cell cultures and living organisms (using
in vivo siRNA transfection systems), but in synthetic production of the
siRNA that may eventually be introduced into cells to induce gene suppression as disease-gene-targeted
RNAi Therapeutics. A number of
biology CRO companies are now providing
RNAi Therapeutics development services.
siRNA molecules are not stable in animals (degrade in a matter of minutes) and therefore require
siRNA encapsulation to be protected from degradation in vivo.
Liposomes can be chemically modifoed to allow tissue targeting and delivery of functional siRNA in vivo (targeted siRNA delivery to animal cells and tissues).
RNAi has also been known as post-transcriptional
gene silencing, and in 2006, two scientists by the name of Andrew Fire and Craig Mello earned the Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine for their work in RNAi studies.
Transfection of siRNA is used in biology laboratories to experimentally induce gene silencing (RNAi) in cultured cells
in vitro and animals
in vivo. Scientists perform gene expression studies, functional genomics, gene characterization, and discovery of signalling gene pathways by introduction of extracellular molecules, such as small interferring RNA (siRNA), microRNA (miRNA), plasmid DNA expressing shRNA, messenger RNA (mRNA).
Transient transfection term refer to introduction of siRNA (or miRNA) molecule inside the cell without affecting its genomic DNA (transient expression), while
stable transfection happens at incorporation of plasmid DNA into genome of the host cell (stable expression). Altogen Labs is a Contract Research Company (CRO) offers pre-clinical research studies, GLP-compliant in vivo and in vitro research services, custom liposome encapsulation,
cell banking, and provides
development of stable cell line service in only 28 days.
There are various cell
transfection methods, including chemical transfection, electroporation, sonoporation, magnetofection, and gene gun injection. Commonly used transfection kits and reagents are nanoparticle-, lipid-, liposome-, and polymer-based. Pre-optimizized transfection kits and products are manufactured by
Altogen Biosystems.
Transfection Links:
Biology Research Resource: RNAi, Cell Transfection, Protocols, Methods
WikiPedia: What is transfection?
Biology Research Services:
Stably-Expressing Cell Line Generation
In Vivo siRNA Transfection Kits and Reagents
·
IN
VIVO TRANSFECTION KITS
·
CELL
LINE TRANSFECTION KITS
·
PRIMARY
CELLS TRANSFECTION KITS
·
ELECTROPORATION
PRODUCTS
·
TRANSFECTION
CONTROLS (GFP PLASMID, SIRNAS)
·
TRANSFECTION
EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES
Labels: biology, biology CRO, cancer, cell banking, cell transfection, encapsulation, gene, in vivo, liposome, RNAi, service, siRNA, siRNA encapsulation, siRNA transfection, stable transfection, transfection