Comparing silencing for CDS and 3' UTR siRNAs
In some cases, it may be preferable to only target the 3′ UTR of an mRNA. For example, the CDS may be highly similar to a related paralog gene that should not be co-targeted.
Complex siRNA pooling is especially important for silencing lncRNAs
One advantage of pooling siRNAs is that the pool tends to silence about as well as any single siRNA.
siPOOLs: robust reagents for gene silencing
Although we talk a lot about off-targets, one of the main advantages of siPOOLs (complex siRNA pools) compared to single siRNAs or mini-pools (Dharmacon) is that they provide near optimum silencing of target genes.
Cutting the Gordian Knot of RNAi off-targets
The C911 siRNA control generated a lot of excitement in the RNAi world when it emerged ~11 years ago.
RNAi vs CRISPR: RNAi even better at finding essential genes
Which technology is better, RNAi or CRISPR? The best answer to this question, like so many others is, it depends.
Chemical modifications only shift the siRNA seed profile
In the last post, we saw that chemically modified ON-TARGETplus siRNAs still have a strong seed effect.
ON-TARGETplus siRNAs have strong off-target effects (despite chemical modification)
Chemical modification has long been proposed as a way to limit the off-target effects of siRNAs.
Similar seed effects in independent siRNA screens
A 2013 study on Parkin translocation used genome-wide siRNA libraries from Ambion (single Silencer Select siRNAs) and Dharmacon (pools of 4 siGENOME siRNAs).
The Iron Law of RNAi Screening
This is the lead singer of a band called Iron Law. He looks like a researcher experiencing massive frustration after discovering what we call the Iron Law of RNAi Screening.
Low hit validation rate for Dharmacon siGENOME screens
Good experimental design is important when validating hits from RNAi screens.
