RNAi Synthesis

RNA Interference (RNAi) is a mechanism by which short strands of double-stranded RNA inhibit the expression of genes with complementary nucleotide sequences. It is a naturally occurring cellular mechanism in many eukaryotes and can be used by researchers to specifically target and silence genes of interest.

The term RNAi was coined after Craig Mello and Andrew Fire reported in 1998 that injection of double stranded RNA into C. elegans cells was able to silence a target gene. Mello and Fire were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2006 for their groundbreaking discovery.  

The past decade has seen increasing use of short interfering RNA (siRNA) and RNAi as a tool to study Functional Genomics, Developmental Biology, Gene Expression and in vivo and in vitro Transfection Efficiency studies.

Synthetic siRNAs and shRNA constructs are 2 popular approaches to study RNAi. At1st BASE, we make this job easier for you by providing the custom synthesis of sequence-specific siRNA for direct transfection, as well as the routine synthesis of shRNA oligos, (~60 bases long purified DNA oligos to be cloned to form shRNA constructs.) See DNA Synthesis for information on DNA oligos.

Features of siRNA synthesis

• Our siRNA duplexes are HPLC purified and annealed before delivery. siRNA duplexes are supplied lyophilized, and delivered with DEPC - treated water for reconstitution.
• Chemically modified siRNA duplexes, such as fluorescent 6-FAM labels are also available. These RNAi duplexes can come as 19 to 28bp duplexes with UU or NN overhangs.
• 1st BASE will provide complimentary siRNA duplex design assistance for confirmed orders. Simply provide the Gene Accession number of your Gene of Interest. We will provide our siRNA proposals upon confirmation of your purchase. It is highly recommended to take up 2 - 3 designs to ensure a higher success rate of gene knockdown.