Knockdown

From WikiMD's Wellnesspedia

Knockdown refers to a phenomenon in molecular biology where the expression of one or more of an organism's genes is reduced, either through genetic modification or by treatment with a reagent such as a short DNA or RNA oligonucleotide that has a sequence complementary to either gene or an mRNA transcript.

Mechanism[edit | edit source]

Knockdown is typically achieved by expressing a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) that is complementary to a target mRNA molecule. The shRNA is processed by the cellular machinery into a short interfering RNA (siRNA), which is then bound to a protein complex known as the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). The RISC uses the siRNA as a guide to degrade the target mRNA, thereby preventing it from being translated into protein.

Applications[edit | edit source]

Knockdown is used in research to study the function of a particular gene. By reducing the expression of the gene, the phenotypic effects can be observed. This can provide information about what the gene does in its normal context. Knockdown can also be used in medicine to treat diseases that are caused by the overexpression of a gene.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


Knockdown Resources

Find a healthcare provider anywhere in the world quickly and easily!

Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.


Contributors: Admin, Prab R. Tumpati, MD