Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) can enter different pathways in mammalian cells, including sequence-specific RNA interference (RNAi), sequence-independent interferon (IFN) response and editing by adenosine deaminases. To study the routing of dsRNA to these pathways in vivo, we used transgenic mice ubiquitously expressing from a strong promoter, an mRNA with a long hairpin in its 3'-UTR. The express...

In planta RNAi against essential insect genes offers a promising route to control insect crop pests, but is constrained for many insect groups, notably phloem sap-feeding hemipterans, by poor RNAi efficacy. This study conducted on the phloem-feeding whitefly Bemisia tabaci reared on tomato plants investigated the causes of low RNAi efficacy and routes to ameliorate the problem. Experiments usin...

The molecular weight of the double-stranded RNA (Pl dsRNA) always associated with the virus-like particles that occur in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was determined to be 3.5 + 0.1 X lo6 by equilibrium sedimentation. Methylmercuric-agarose gel electrophoresis yielded a value of 1.67 + 0.11 x lo6 for the single-stranded form. The sedimentation coefficient, 0 SZO+,, was determined by bounda...

Exogenous nucleic acids induce an innate immune response in mammalian host cells through activation of the retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I). We evaluated RIG-I protein for RNA binding and ATPase stimulation with RNA ligands to investigate the correlation with the extent of immune response through RIG-I activation in cells. RIG-I protein favored blunt-ended, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) lig...

: Insect-pests are a limiting factor in increasing agricultural production worldwide. Although major crops, including soybean (Glycine max), maize (Zea mays), and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), face high pesticide costs an attempt to mitigate or control pests, losses of up 40% recorded every year. In this scenario, transgenic crops remain one the most promising biotechnological tools for reducing...

Melanoma Differentiation-Associated gene 5 (MDA5), encoded by the gene IFIH1, is a cytoplasmic sensor for viral double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs). MDA5 activates the type I interferon signaling pathway upon detection of long viral dsRNA generated during replication of picornaviruses. Studies have shown that MDA5 forms a filament along the length of dsRNA and utilizes ATP-dependent filament dynamics...

Since the discovery of RNA interference (RNAi) in nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans 1998 by Fire and Mello et al., strides have been made exploiting RNAi for therapeutic applications more recently highly selective insect pest control. Although triggering mRNA degradation insects through offers significant opportunities crop protection, application environmental naked dsRNA is often ineffecti...

Viral dsRNA can be found at the site of inflammation in RA patients, and intra-articular injection of dsRNA induces arthritis by activating type I IFN signaling in mice. Further, DCs, a major source of IFN-α, can be found in the synovium of RA patients. We therefore determined the occurrence of DCs in dsRNA-induced arthritis and their ability to induce arthritis. Here, we show, by immunohistoch...

In eukaryotes, double-stranded (ds) RNA induces sequence-specific inhibition of gene expression, referred to as RNA interference (RNAi). In invertebrates, RNAi can be triggered effectively by either long dsRNAs or 21- to 23-nt-long short interfering (si) duplex RNAs, acting as effectors of RNAi. siRNAs recently have been shown to act as potent inducers of RNAi in cultured mammalian cells. Howev...

An animal that can transfer gene-regulatory information from somatic cells to germ cells may be able to communicate changes in the soma from one generation to the next. In the worm Caenorhabditis elegans, expression of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in neurons can result in the export of dsRNA-derived mobile RNAs to other distant cells. Here, we show that neuronal mobile RNAs can cause transgenera...