LINEAR DOUBLE-STRANDED RNA MOLECULE INTERFERING WITH DIFFERENT TARGET GENES

摘要

A linear double-stranded RNA molecule, which comprises two or more consecutively or convergently linked short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) each reducing the expression of one of different target genes, and a recombinant expression vector comprising double-stranded DNA sequence expressing the linear double-stranded RNA molecule are provided. The linear double-stranded RNA molecule or the recombinant expression vector is useful for a method of reducing expression of target genes in a cell, the method comprising introducing the linear double-stranded RNA molecule or the recombinant expression vector into the cell, whereby the encoded siRNAs target different genes and reduce expression of the target genes. It was also proved that effective gene silencing activity can be induced when each siRNA unit within the linear double-stranded RNA molecule has 18 to 24 nucleotides and, additionally, the gene silencing activity is not affected by inverted orientation of an siRNA.