RNA干扰(RNAinterference,缩写为RNAi)是指一种分子生物学上由双链RNA诱发的基因沉默现象,其机制是通过阻碍特定基因的转录或翻译来抑制基因表达。当细胞中导入与内源性mRNA编码区同源的双链RNA时,该mRNA发生降解而导致基因表达沉默[1]。与其它基因沉默现象不同的是,在植物和線蟲中,RNAi具有传递性,可在细胞之间传播,此現象被稱作全身性RNA干擾(systemic RNAi)[2][3]。在秀丽隐杆线虫上实验时还可使子一代产生基因突变,甚至於可用喂食細菌給線蟲的方式讓線蟲得以產生RNA干擾現象。RNAi现象在生物中普遍存在。2006年,安德鲁·法厄(Andrew Z. Fire)与克雷格·梅洛(Craig C. Mello)由于在秀丽隐杆线虫的RNAi机制研究中的贡献而共同获得诺贝尔生理及医学奖。
RNAi与转录后基因沉默(post-transcriptional gene silencing and transgene silencing)在分子層次上被证实是同一种现象[來源請求]。
1998年,安德鲁·法厄(Andrew Z. Fire)等在秀丽隐杆线虫(C.elegans)中进行反义RNA抑制实验时发现,作为对照加入的双链RNA相比正义或反义RNA显示出了更强的抑制效果[1]。从与靶mRNA的分子量比考虑,加入的双链RNA的抑制效果要强于理论上1:1配对时的抑制效果,因此推测在双链RNA引导的抑制过程中存在某种扩增效应并且有某种酶活性参与其中。并且将这种现象命名为RNA干扰。
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