ABSTRACT
RNA interference (RNAi) is widely used to inhibit mammalian gene expression. It is mediated by cellular ribonucleoprotein complexes containing short-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) or microRNAs (miRNAs) that guide target recognition. Multiple vector-based strategies for RNAi have been developed, usually based on the synthesis of short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) that are subsequently processed by cellular enzymes into siRNAs/miRNAs. Here, we review vector-based strategies for RNAi, focusing on vectors that utilize RNA polymerase II and modified versions of miRNA precursors to produce synthetic miRNAs/siRNAs in mammalian cells.
