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Specific Gene Silencing Using RNAi in Cell Culture

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Neurodegeneration

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 793))

Abstract

RNA interference (RNAi) is a conserved cellular mechanism in most eukaryotes that can mediate specific gene silencing. Since its discovery in 1998, rapid progress has been made in understanding its basic mechanism and its application in research and drug discovery. In recent years, the application of RNAi in research, including research in neurodegeneration, has expanded rapidly such that it has become a regular tool for reverse genetics in cultured cells in many labs. However, an incomplete understanding of the RNAi mechanism and worries about its pitfalls still intimidate many others. Here, we present a streamlined and simple protocol for the design and implementation of an RNAi experiment in cultured cells, aiming to enable those who are inexperienced with RNAi to apply this powerful method in their research, particularly in the field of neurodegeneration.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been supported by RO1 NS048145 and R21 NS062230-01.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA

    Chunxing Yang & Linghua Qiu

  2. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Cell Biology, Neuroscience Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA

    Zuoshang Xu

Authors
  1. Chunxing Yang
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  2. Linghua Qiu
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  3. Zuoshang Xu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zuoshang Xu .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Weill Medical College, Dept. Neurology & Neuroscience, Cornell University, East 68th St. 525, New York, 10065, New York, USA

    Giovanni Manfredi

  2. York Avenue 1300, New York, 10065, New York, USA

    Hibiki Kawamata

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© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Yang, C., Qiu, L., Xu, Z. (2011). Specific Gene Silencing Using RNAi in Cell Culture. In: Manfredi, G., Kawamata, H. (eds) Neurodegeneration. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 793. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-328-8_30

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-328-8_30

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-327-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-328-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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