Small Interfering RNA (siRNA) (小干扰RNA)

Small Interfering RNA (siRNA) is a small exogenous double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) (20-25 nucleotides), which triggers the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway. The short dsRNA unwinds and the sense strand is degraded. Antisense strand forms RNA induced silencing complex (RISC) with various protein components. The antisense strand retained in RISC is specifically complementary to the target gene mRNA. Meanwhile, RISC has nuclease activity, which can cut and degrade the target gene mRNA, and inhibit the expression of target gene. Incomplete complementarity results in mRNA translation inhibition.