SiRNA Induces Apoptosis Of HL-60 Cells Via Inhibition Of C-Myc Protein

Aim:RNA interference (RNAi) which recently developed is an effective method to inhibit gene expression。 It is in the mRNA level that endogenic or exogenic double- strand RNA (dsRNA) induces gene silencing with high specifity. The basic principle is to transfect cells with small interfering RNA(siRNA) containing 21 ~ 23 nucleotides homologous in sequence to the target gene. siRNA and a series of specific proteins in cells form RISC (RNA induced silencing complex). RISC taking siRNA as its template specially binds to homologous mRNA and progressively cuts the mRNA, forming strongly effective waterfall effects and inducing sequence-specific mRNA degeneration. As a result, the target gene is silenced. siRNA has been extensively applied to the research of gene therapy. Because siRNA has a high stability, speciality and efficacy in inducing gene silence, it is superior to antisense oligonuleotides in reducing protein expression coded by target mRNA. Applying siRNA to leukemia therapy may make a new way in the treatment of leukemia.Oncogene c-myc is an important member in the myc family, and the phosphate-protein encoded by this gene belongs to nucleoprotein. It plays a vital role in the process of proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of normal cells. The c-myc gene has a high level expression in many kinds of human tumor cells, as well as in HL-60 cells...