Short hairpin RNAs induced RNA interference in human cells.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: RNA interference (RNAi) is an evolutionarily conserved posttranscriptional gene silencing, in which the introduction of double-stranded RNA into a cell leads to specific suppression of gene expression. RNAi has become an important tool for gene function studies. The aim of this study was to induce RNAi in mammalian cells by short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) generated from a DNA vector, therefore, to provide a new approach for gene function analysis.

METHODS

Dual Luciferase System was used to assess the intracellular effect of the shRNAs generated from a DNA vector. The inhibitory effect of this DNA vector-driven shRNAs at different condition was measured.

RESULTS

shRNAs generated from the DNA vector induced RNAi in human cells, and suppressed gene expression in a sequence-specific manner. The inhibitory effect was highly related to the target sites.

CONCLUSION

shRNAs induced RNAi in human cells and suppressed gene expression in a sequence-specific manner. This approach may be used for gene function study.