siRNA
Science & Engineering abbreviation · Genetics
| Stands for | Small interfering RNA |
|---|---|
| Categories | Science & Engineering |
siRNA stands for Small interfering RNA, a genetics abbreviation.
Short double-stranded RNA, usually 21-23 nucleotides long, that guides a protein complex to destroy a messenger RNA with a matching sequence, silencing that gene. Researchers use siRNAs to switch off genes in cultured cells, and several approved drugs use chemically modified siRNAs.
Example: Knockdown of the target gene with siRNA reduced its protein level by 85% after 48 hours.
Usage notes
Thomas Tuschl's group showed in 2001 that synthetic 21-nucleotide siRNAs silence genes in mammalian cells without triggering interferon responses. Patisiran, approved in 2018 for hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis, was the first siRNA drug. Drug names ending in "-siran," such as inclisiran, indicate siRNA therapeutics.
Related abbreviations
More genetics abbreviations
- RFLP – Restriction fragment length polymorphism
- RNA-seq – RNA sequencing
- RNAi – RNA interference
- scRNA-seq – Single-cell RNA sequencing
- sgRNA – Single guide RNA
- shRNA – Short hairpin RNA
- SNP – Single-nucleotide polymorphism
- snRNA – Small nuclear RNA
- SNV – Single-nucleotide variant
- ssDNA – Single-stranded DNA
- STR – Short tandem repeat
- T2T – Telomere-to-telomere