siRNA - Overview and Technical Tips
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The document provides an overview of small interfering RNAs (siRNA) and their applications in gene silencing and drug development, highlighting their role in RNA interference (RNAi) as a mechanism for regulating gene expression. It includes technical tips, troubleshooting advice, and details on how siRNA functions in biological processes. The document concludes with potential therapeutic applications, particularly in oncology and viral infections, as well as ongoing challenges in the field.
siRNA - Overview and Technical Tips
- 1. 1siRNA siRNA Overview and Technical Tips www.ptglab.com
- 2. 2siRNA CONTENTS Introduction Applications How Does It Work? Handy Tips Troubleshooting Conclusions Further References Contact Us 3–4 5–7 8–10 11–13 14–18 19 20 21 www.ptglab.com
- 3. 3siRNA INTRODUCTION At A Glance In Conclusion –– Applications as potential therapeutics and in drug development. www.ptglab.com
- 4. 4siRNA INTRODUCTION At A Glance RNAi interference (RNAi): –– RNAi is a post-transcriptional gene silencing process. –– RNAi leads to sequence specific degradation of mRNA. –– Highly specific process. –– Important genome regulation and defence mechanism. www.ptglab.com
- 5. 5siRNA APPLICATIONS General Ideas siRNAs: –– Small interfering RNAs. –– 21–25 nt long fragments. –– Bind to complementary target mRNA. Advantages of gene silencing: –– Cost effective method. –– Fast design of siRNA, mRNA sequence is needed. –– Highly specific method. –– Downregulation of target genes. –– Helpful tool for the analysis of genes and their functions. –– Powerful tool in gene therapy. www.ptglab.com
- 6. 6siRNA APPLICATIONS Big Potential From Small RNAs Powerful tool for functional genomics: –– An accurate and potent gene silencing method. –– Knock-downs are quite easy. –– Study of functions. –– Variety of controls. –– A lot of published data exist of siRNA targeting specific genes. In Conclusion –– Small RNAs have been identified to play multiple biological roles. –– Currently the most widely used gene-silencing technique. "Billion Dollar Breakthrough" - Fortune "Technology Of The Year" - Science (2002) www.ptglab.com
- 7. 7siRNA –– Virus targeting: HIV Hepatitis Respiratory infections APPLICATIONS Oncology Stem Cells Hematology Other Diseases Infectious Diseases –– Analysis of signaling molecules. –– Defining oncogenes. –– Observation of tumor phenotype. –– Designing disease models (hematologic disorders are loss of function diseases). –– Huntington, Macular Degeneration. Some siRNA candiates entered clinical trials only 10 years after the discovery of the RNAi mechanism. www.ptglab.com
- 8. 8siRNA HOW DOES IT WORK? 1. dsRNA is processed into sense/antisence RNA by Dicer. 2. siRNA associates with RISC. 4. RISC cuts the target mRNA. 5. mRNA degradation. 3. Antisense siRNA/RISC complex associates with the target mRNA. 1. 2. 4. 5. 3. www.ptglab.com
- 9. 9siRNA HOW DOES IT WORK? Inspired by siRNA siRNA sequences can be tailored to block disease-causing genes. www.ptglab.com
- 10. 10siRNA Protocol Overview HOW DOES IT WORK? Important factors influencing siRNA experiments Cell type Cell growth rate Cell density Cell viability Transfection method Quality/quantity of siRNA Time of transfection www.ptglab.com
- 11. 11siRNA HANDY TIPS –– Use RNase-free tips. –– Use pipettes only for RNA work. –– Use gloves. –– Changes gloves after touching any surface. –– Clean your work surface with a RNase-decontaminating solution or wipes. –– Working in a RNase free zone, no air vents. –– Requires multiple test transfections to optimize the best conditions. –– Transfection efficiency should be as high as possible. –– Fluorescently labeled siRNA simplifies targeting of the knock-down effect. RNase-free Environment Working With A New Target/siRNA/ Cell Type www.ptglab.com
- 12. 12siRNA HANDY TIPS –– Use positive/negative controls. –– Use a second siRNA against the same target. –– Titrate the siRNA concentration. –– Monitor RNA and protein level. –– Keep culture conditions consistent. –– Healthy cells. –– Optimal cell density. –– Optimize culture conditions (media, etc). –– Optimize transfection reagent. Validation Of siRNA Data Optimizing siRNA Delivery Into Cultured Cells www.ptglab.com
- 13. 13siRNA HANDY TIPS –– Around 21–23nt long. –– G/C content: 30–50%. –– No basepair mismatch. –– siRNA should not bind to introns. –– No sequence that shows homology other coding sequences (BLAST). –– Work with two or three different siRNA constructs to get reliable results. Designing siRNA www.ptglab.com
- 14. 14siRNA TROUBLESHOOTING FAQs FAQs Recommendations Serum or serum-free medium? Transfection reagents require serum-free medium for dilution of the siRNA complex. Serum quality/lot might affect the experiment. Antibiotics or antibiotics-free medium? Dependent on combination of cell type and transfection reagent: Cell permeability is very sensitive during transfection. Antibiotics can cause cell death. Replacement of transfection medium? In general it can be replaced after 6h as at this time the transfection will be completed. Not required step, depends on tranfection reagent. Storage of siRNA reagents? siRNA: frozen (clean tube before use), reagents: 4°C. www.ptglab.com
- 15. 15siRNA TROUBLESHOOTING FAQs FAQs Recommendations siRNA concentration? The lowest functional siRNA amount evaluated in test transfection should be used for the experiments. Duration of siRNA silencing? In general, the silencing effect can be observed earliest after 24h. It retains cell type dependent for 4–7 days. Stock solution of siRNA. Consult manufacturer’s instructions, generally between 50–100 µM. Working solution of siRNA? Has to be optimized. Generally, a rage of 5–100 nM is used. www.ptglab.com
- 16. 16siRNA TROUBLESHOOTING Controls Control type Recommendations Read-out Analyse mRNA and protein level. Use lowest effective siRNA concentration Higher concentrations of siRNA lead to more off-target effects. GAPDH siRNA control GAPDH is high expressed in virtually all mammalian cells. It is a useful tool for evaluating transfection efficiency and cell viability. Transfection of two or more different siRNA against the target of interest Helps to identify sequence specific off-target effects. New target/siRNA/cell type Requires multiple test transfections to optimize the best conditions. Toxic impact Cell sample just treated with the transfection reagent. Endogenous protein level Non-treated/transfected cell sample. www.ptglab.com
- 17. 17siRNA TROUBLESHOOTING Controls Control type Recommendations Titrate siRNA amount Use different concentrations. siRNA conjugated to a fluorescence label Microscopic evaluation of transfection efficiency. Include a cell line with a known high transfection efficiency. If the cell line of interest is difficult to transfect, use a control cell line. Scrambled siRNA Helps to differentiate between sequence-specific silencing from non-specific silencing affects. Time points Check silencing affects at different post-transfection time points. Recombinant protein Re-introduce the protein by transfection with the recombinant protein. www.ptglab.com
- 18. 18siRNA TROUBLESHOOTING Unhealthy Cells Recommendations Passage cell lines frequently, do not allow cells to overgrown. Passage fresh cells lines at least 1–2 times before the experiment. Usually a high cell density is needed > 70 %*. Transfect cells at the same passage numbers. * Cell density and passage number depends on the type of cell line. www.ptglab.com
- 19. 19siRNA CONCLUSIONS –– RNAi is an important part of the cellular machinery that provides viral immunity and mechanism for the control of gene expression. –– siRNA triggers function in the RNAi mechanism result in gene suppression. –– Potential therapeutic application include viruses and cancer. –– Technical challenges: Stability Targeting Off-target effects Immune response Delivery –– The field is relatively young and much remains to be discovered. www.ptglab.com
- 20. 20siRNA FURTHER REFERENCES –– K. Huppi, S. Martin, et al., Defining and Assaying RNAi in Mammalian Cells. Mol. Cell. 17(1), 1-10 (2005). –– Whither RNAi? Nat. Cell. Biol. 5(6), 489-90 (2003). –– L.P. Lim, N.C. Lau, et al., Microarray analysis shows that some microRNAs down regulate large numbers of target mRNAs. Nature. 433(7027), 769-773 (2005). –– F. Barthel et al, Gene transfer optimization with lipospermine-coated DNA, DNA Cell Biol. 12, 553–60( 1993). –– P.L. Felgner et al, Enhanced gene delivery and mechanism studies with a novel series of cationic lipid formulations. J. Biol. Chem. 269, 2550–61 (1994). –– D.H. Kim et al., Nature Reviews Genetics 8, 173–184 (2007). –– S. Loyter et al., Mechanisms of DNA uptake by mammalian cells: Fate of exogenously added DNA monitored by the use of fluorescent dyes. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 79, 422–6. (1982). –– D.S . Anson et al., The use of retroviral vectors for gene therapy-what are the risks? A review of retroviral pathogenesis and its relevance to retroviral vector-mediated gene delivery. Genet. Vaccines Ther. 2, 9. (2004). www.ptglab.com
- 21. 21siRNA CONTACT US proteintech@ptglab.com europe@ptglab.com service@ptglab.com Available 24 hours via Live Chat and 9–5 (CDT) via phone. Proteintech Group Proteintech Europe Proteintech Support US Head Office United Kingdom China Office Please visit us at www.ptglab.com for more information about our antibodies and technical tips. www.ptglab.com