Lecture 2 - Advanced Technologies In Studying Gene Function

Question 1

How do we study protein function in vivo?

Answer 1

K.O 
RNA interference (RNAi)

Question 2

K.O. characteristics:

Answer 2

• 100% efficiency (Advantage)
• Irreversible (Disadvantage)
• Chronic absence of protein -> development of compensation mechanisms
• Laborious process (Disadvantage)

In both K.O and RNAi, protein depletion is indirect and very slow to deplete long-lived proteins.

Question 3

RNAi characteristics:

Answer 3

• Acute (Advantage)
• Variable Efficiency (Advantage and Disadvantage)
• Long-lived proteins -> Longer depletion times (Disadvantage)
• Different mRNA isoforms (Disadvantage)

In both K.O and RNAi, protein depletion is indirect and very slow to deplete long-lived proteins.