Anti-sense RNA (asRNA) is a small non-coding RNA which has a complementary sequence with a certain messenger RNA, and inhibits the translation of the mRNA by RNA pairing. Utilization of anti-sense RNA (asRNA) is becoming more popular method for silencing of target gene expression even among iGEMers. However, it is difficult to find out the most efficient asRNA structure, since the efficiency of an asRNA may be affected by several essential elements,

1. its secondary structures
2. its stability in cells
3. stability of asRNA-mRNA duplex
4. its annealing position with mRNA etc.

Aim of our project is directed to generate a standard protocol for finding efficient asRNA structure, which has simple paired-termini (PT) structure and is suited to the BioBrick standard. PT flanks anti-sense sequence and stabilizes asRNA by forming “stem-loop” structure in E. coli (N. Nakashima et al., 2006). We also make a protocol for designing the best anti-sense sequence against any mRNA. We believe that our products will help many iGEMers and whom considering of asRNA.

In our Human Practice, we are planning to give a presentation about synthetic biology and the activity of iGEM in our “University Festival” and our “Visit high schools”. In every event, we do an interview survey to know what opinions about genetic recombination younger students or people have. Then, we make some helps to get them right knowledge about gene recombination through relationship with us. On our activities, we hope that this project contribute to lead young high school students to accept genetic engineering and to change future public acceptance of genetic engineering.