siRNA

This is the functional element of our replicon and shows a potential area for RNA experimentation. This sequence was specifically designed using RNA fold and investigating the minimum free energy bond formation, in order to form a secondary structure in the positive sense that would not include a length of double stranded RNA longer than 16 bases and hence would not be recognised by Dicer and our replicon would remain intact for further replication. However, in the negative sense the secondary structure will form a hairpin recognised by Dicer which will result in cleavage and release of the siRNA from the RNA strand allowing it to bind in a complimentary fashion to the 3’UTR of DPP-IV mRNA and cause RNA silencing hence reducing the amount of DPP-IV protein present in the cell. We used siRNA sequences from various papers to design this hairpin.

Click here to learn about our siRNA.