RNAi screening
RNA interference has enabled genome-scale loss-of-function screens in cultured cells. The fact that RNAi can be scaled up for use in high-throughput techniques has motivated the creation of genome-wide RNAi reagents.
Comprehensive, high-throughput analysis of gene function using RNA interference (RNAi)-based screens is emerging as a significant step forward for preliminary drug-target identification.
Until quite recently drug target identification depended heavily on the analysis of changes in gene expression, which in turn needed to be correlated with gene function.
The promise of obtaining preliminary ’gene to phenotype’ information using a single high-throughput platform is propelling major investment in this area by biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.
References
Boutros M, Ahringer J. The art and design of genetic screens: RNA interference. Nat Rev Genet. 2008 Jun 3. PMID: 18521077
Chatterjee-Kishore M. From genome to phenome—RNAi library screening and hit characterization using signaling pathway analysis. Curr Opin Drug Discov Devel. 2006 Mar;9(2):231-9.PMID: 16566293
Moffat J, Sabatini DM. Building mammalian signalling pathways with RNAi screens. Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2006 Mar;7(3):177-87. PMID: 16496020
Echeverri CJ, Perrimon N. High-throughput RNAi screening in cultured cells: a user’s guide. Nat Rev Genet. 2006 May;7(5):373-84. PMID: 16607398
Zhu C, Zhao J, Bibikova M, Leverson JD, Bossy-Wetzel E, Fan JB, Abraham RT, Jiang W. Functional analysis of human microtubule-based motor proteins, the kinesins and dyneins, in mitosis/cytokinesis using RNA interference. Mol Biol Cell. 2005 Jul;16(7):3187-99. PMID: 15843429