Short hairpin or small hairpin RNA (shRNA) is artificial RNA, which has a hairpin loop structure, and uses inherent microRNA (miRNA) machinery to silence target gene expression. This is called RNA interference (RNAi). These can be delivered via plasmids or viral/bacterial vectors. Challenges in shRNA-mediated gene silencing include 1. Off-target silencing, 2. Packaging shRNA encoding lentivirus, and 3. Stable transduction in cells. RNAi has been designed to have anywhere from 19-27 bs, but the most effective design has 19 bp. In case commercial shRNAs are not available, potential target sites can be chosen within exon, 5’- or 3’ UTR, depending on which splice variants of the gene are desired. One should use the latest algorithms and choose at least two different sequences, targeting different regions, in order to have confidence in overcoming off-target effects. A BLAST search after selecting potential design will eliminate potential off-target sequences. For the second challenge, sequencing the vector using primers for either strand (50-100 bp upstream) is suggested, along with using enzymatic digestion on agarose gel for the vector. Next, once the shRNA-containing vector is packaged in a virus, it is important to check the viral titer before transduction. Finally, using a marker in the lentiviral vector (fluorescent protein or antibiotic resistance), along with qPCR for target gene expression can help in determining the efficacy of transduction and shRNA on its target site.
Get tips on using GenomONE™-Neo HVJ-E Membrane Fusion Transfection Kit to perform siRNA / miRNA gene silencing Human - U937 MK2 (MAPK Kinase 2) Viral vectors
Get tips on using GenomONE™-Neo HVJ-E Membrane Fusion Transfection Kit to perform siRNA / miRNA gene silencing Human - Jurkat MK2 (MAPK Kinase 2) Viral vectors
Get tips on using Lipofectamine® 2000 Transfection Reagent to perform siRNA / miRNA gene silencing Human - Primary Endometrial Stromal Cells IGFBP1 (Insuline-like growth factor binding protein-1) Lipid
Get tips on using MicroRNA isolation kit to perform siRNA / miRNA gene silencing Rat - IEC-6 HuR
Get tips on using FlexiTube GeneSolution GS27279 for Tnfrsf12a to perform siRNA / miRNA gene silencing Mouse - B16-BL6 FN14/Tnfrsf12a
Get tips on using SurePrint Human miRNA Microarrays to perform Microarray Human - Endometrial stromal cells miRNA-expression array (labelled)
Get tips on using DeadEnd™ Colorimetric TUNEL System to perform TUNEL assay cell type - HNSCC Detroit 562 human head and neck tumor cells
Get tips on using 3D-Gene® Mouse miRNA Oligo chip (ver.21) to perform Microarray Gene expression arrays - Mouse liver tissue Cyanine-3-CTP
Get tips on using MISSION® esiRNA_esiRNA targeting mouse Lrp5 (esiRNA1) to perform siRNA / miRNA gene silencing Mouse - MLO‐Y4 Lrp5
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