Double-stranded RNA

Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is RNA with two complementary strands found in cells. It is similar to DNA but with the replacement of thymine by uracil and the adding of one oxygen atom. ^[1]Despite the structural similarities, much less is known about dsRNA.^[2]

They form the genetic material of some viruses (double-stranded RNA viruses). dsRNA, such as viral RNA or siRNA, can trigger RNA interference in eukaryotes, as well as interferon response in vertebrates.^[3]^[4]^[5] In eukaryotes, dsRNA plays a role in the activation of the innate immune system against viral infections. ^[1]

^ ^a ^b Whitehead KA, Dahlman JE, Langer RS, Anderson DG (2011-07-15). "Silencing or stimulation? siRNA delivery and the immune system". Annual Review of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. 2 (1): 77–96. doi:10.1146/annurev-chembioeng-061010-114133. PMID 22432611.
^ Lipfert J, Skinner GM, Keegstra JM, Hensgens T, Jager T, Dulin D, et al. (October 2014). "Double-stranded RNA under force and torque: similarities to and striking differences from double-stranded DNA". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 111 (43): 15408–15413. Bibcode:2014PNAS..11115408L. doi:10.1073/pnas.1407197111. PMC 4217419. PMID 25313077.
^ Schultz U, Kaspers B, Staeheli P (May 2004). "The interferon system of non-mammalian vertebrates". Developmental and Comparative Immunology. 28 (5): 499–508. doi:10.1016/j.dci.2003.09.009. PMID 15062646.
^ Weber F, Wagner V, Rasmussen SB, Hartmann R, Paludan SR (May 2006). "Double-stranded RNA is produced by positive-strand RNA viruses and DNA viruses but not in detectable amounts by negative-strand RNA viruses". Journal of Virology. 80 (10): 5059–5064. doi:10.1128/JVI.80.10.5059-5064.2006. PMC 1472073. PMID 16641297.
^ Jana S, Chakraborty C, Nandi S, Deb JK (November 2004). "RNA interference: potential therapeutic targets". Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 65 (6): 649–657. doi:10.1007/s00253-004-1732-1. PMID 15372214.

[Whitehead_2011-1] Whitehead KA, Dahlman JE, Langer RS, Anderson DG (2011-07-15). "Silencing or stimulation? siRNA delivery and the immune system". Annual Review of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. 2 (1): 77–96. doi:10.1146/annurev-chembioeng-061010-114133. PMID 22432611.

[2] Lipfert J, Skinner GM, Keegstra JM, Hensgens T, Jager T, Dulin D, et al. (October 2014). "Double-stranded RNA under force and torque: similarities to and striking differences from double-stranded DNA". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 111 (43): 15408–15413. Bibcode:2014PNAS..11115408L. doi:10.1073/pnas.1407197111. PMC 4217419. PMID 25313077.

[3] Schultz U, Kaspers B, Staeheli P (May 2004). "The interferon system of non-mammalian vertebrates". Developmental and Comparative Immunology. 28 (5): 499–508. doi:10.1016/j.dci.2003.09.009. PMID 15062646.

[4] Weber F, Wagner V, Rasmussen SB, Hartmann R, Paludan SR (May 2006). "Double-stranded RNA is produced by positive-strand RNA viruses and DNA viruses but not in detectable amounts by negative-strand RNA viruses". Journal of Virology. 80 (10): 5059–5064. doi:10.1128/JVI.80.10.5059-5064.2006. PMC 1472073. PMID 16641297.

[5] Jana S, Chakraborty C, Nandi S, Deb JK (November 2004). "RNA interference: potential therapeutic targets". Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 65 (6): 649–657. doi:10.1007/s00253-004-1732-1. PMID 15372214.

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