The RNA interference (RNAi) pathway is found in most eukaryotic lineages but curiously is absent in others, including that of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We show that reconstituting RNAi in S. cerevisiae causes loss of a beneficial double-stranded RNA virus known as killer virus. Incompatibility between RNAi and killer viruses extends to other fungal species in that RNAi is absent in all species ...

RNA-mediated interference (RNAi) has emerged recently as one of the most powerful functional genomics tools. RNAi has been particularly effective in the nematode worm C. elegans where RNAi has been used to analyse the loss-of-function phenotypes of almost all predicted genes. In this review, we illustrate how RNAi has been used to analyse gene function in C. elegans as well as pointing to some ...

RNA interference (RNAi) has developed into a powerful tool for probing gene function. Recently, several reports have demonstrated the use of RNAi for attenuation of viral infection and replication in cultured cells. Furthermore, RNAi has been shown to suppress gene expression in adult animals. Although these results suggest that RNAi might become a novel therapeutic approach, significant hurdle...

RNA interference (RNAi) of target genes is triggered by double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) processed by conserved nucleases and accessory factors. To identify the genetic components required for RNAi, we performed a genome-wide screen using an engineered RNAi sensor strain of Caenorhabditis elegans. The RNAi screen identified 90 genes. These included Piwi/PAZ proteins, DEAH helicases, RNA binding/pr...

In fission yeast, siRNA generated by RNA interference (RNAi) factors plays critical roles in establishment and maintenance of heterochromatin. To achieve efficient synthesis, RNAi assemble on heterochromatin via association with Swi6, a homologue protein 1 (HP1), heterochromatic noncoding (hncRNA) retained chromatin. addition, spliceosomes formed hncRNA introns recruit to Small nuclear RNAs, co...

Phytophthora infestans is the oomycete responsible for late blight disease of Solanaceae that causes both yield and economic losses. With aim reducing plant wilt high management costs mainly due to wide fungicide applications, alternative eco-sustainable control strategies are needed. RNA interference (RNAi) a powerful tool gene function studies can be accomplished by constitutive transformatio...

Pericentromeric heterochromatin formation is mediated by repressive histone H3 lysine 9 methylation (H3K9Me) and its recognition by HP1 proteins. Intriguingly, in many organisms, RNAi is coupled to this process through poorly understood mechanisms. In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the H3-K9 methyltransferase Clr4 and the heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) ortholog Swi6 are critical for RNAi, whereas ...

RNAi pathway is an antiviral defence mechanism employed by insects that result in degradation of viral RNA thereby curbing infection. Several viruses including flaviviruses encode viral suppressors of RNAi (VSRs) to counteract the antiviral RNAi pathway. Till date, no VSR has been reported in alphaviruses. The present study was undertaken to evaluate chikungunya virus (CHIKV) proteins for RNAi ...

RNA interference (RNAi) is a post-transcriptional gene-regulatory mechanism that operates in many eukaryotes. RNAi is induced by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and is mainly involved in defence against transposons and viruses. To counteract RNAi, viruses have RNAi suppressors. Here we show a novel mechanism of RNAi suppression by a plant virus Red clover necrotic mosaic virus (RCNMV). To suppress ...

The moss Physcomitrella patens performs efficient homologous recombination, which allows for the study of individual gene function by generating gene disruptions. Yet, if the gene of study is essential, gene disruptions cannot be isolated in the predominantly haploid P. patens. Additionally, disruption of a gene does not always generate observable phenotypes due to redundant functions from rela...