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Target Discovery and Validation Reviews and Protocols

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176 Houdebine<br />

Fig. 5. Different methods to inhibit specifically the expression of a gene. (A)<br />

Classical gene addition, (B) gene knockout, (C) gene knockdown by targeted gene<br />

silencing (TGS), (D) inactivation of a mRNA by hybridizing with an antisense oligonucleotide,<br />

(E) knockdown by mRNA inactivation by using siRNA, (F) knockdown by<br />

inhibition of mRNA translation by using microRNA, (G) inhibition of a cellular protein<br />

by using an intrabody, (H) competitive inhibition of a cellular protein by using overexpression<br />

of a transdominant negative protein, <strong>and</strong> (I) specific destruction of a given cell<br />

type in vivo (genomic ablation).<br />

resistant to diseases. In Fig. 5, the different levels in which the expression of a<br />

gene can be blocked are shown. The levels are essentially genes themselves,<br />

mRNAs, <strong>and</strong> proteins. Indeed, the expected effect is most of the time finally at<br />

the protein level. Genes can be specifically inactivated after having been knocked<br />

out. In addition, gene function can be inhibited by several mechanisms, such the<br />

use of small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs), <strong>and</strong> synthetic antisense siRNAs <strong>and</strong><br />

microRNAs can inactivate specifically mRNAs by inducing their degradation or<br />

the inhibition of their translation, respectively (see Chapters 4–12, Volume 2).<br />

Recombinant intracellular antibodies known as intrabodies can inactivate proteins.<br />

An overexpression of transdominant negative proteins playing the role of<br />

decoys can abrogate specifically protein function as well. To generate relevant

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