Toxicologic Pathology

 

Advanced Search

Journal Navigation

Journal Home

Subscriptions

Archive

Contact Us

Table of Contents

Click here for more information

Click here for more information

Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Request Reprints
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Martineau, H. M.
Right arrow Articles by Pyrah, I. T.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Martineau, H. M.
Right arrow Articles by Pyrah, I. T.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati  
What's this?
Toxicologic Pathology, Vol. 35, No. 3, 327-336 (2007)
DOI: 10.1080/01926230701197107
© 2007 Society of Toxicologic Pathology

Invited Review

Review of the Application of RNA Interference Technology in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Henny M. Martineau1 and Ian T. Pyrah2

1 Scottish Agricultural College, Allan Watt Building, Bush Estate, Penicuik, EH26 0QE, United Kingdom
2 Amgen Inc, One Amgen Center Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA

Correspondence: Address correspondence to: Ian T. Pyrah, Amgen Inc, One Amgen Center Drive, Mailstop 29-2-A, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320, USA; e-mail:ipyrah{at}amgen.com

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) interference (RNAi) is a recently discovered phenomenon whereby the introduction of double stranded (ds) RNA into the cytoplasm of the cell results in the specific and efficient degradation of complementary messenger (m) RNA and, therefore, reduced protein production. It was discovered by chance during attempts to develop flowers with increased colour intensity. The specific nature of the inhibition of protein production of cells has resulted in an explosion of research to understand and exploit RNAi. The technique is now established in in vitro systems, and much work is focussed in adapting RNAi for in vivo application. The potential of the technology in understanding physiological and pathological processes is significant, while its development as a therapeutic agent holds much promise as targeted agents. This review will describe the basic biological processes that drive RNAi, indicate current areas of areas research, and forecast future areas of development.

Key Words: RNA interference • biotechnology • discovery pathology • drug development • mechanisms of toxicity • molecular pathology

Abbreviations: ATP, adenosine triphosphate • CHS, chalcone synthetase • CIA, collagen induced arthritis • CL, cationic liposomes • ds, double stranded • mi, micro • nt, nucleotide • piRNA, piwi interacting RNA • PTGS, post transcriptional gene silencing • RdRp, RNA dependent RNA polymerases • RNA, ribonucleic acid • RNAi, RNA interference • RISC, RNA interfering silencing complex • sh, short hairpin • si, short interfering • siRNA, short interfering RNA • sm, small modulatory


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?