Sequence characteristics of functional siRNAs Journal Article


Authors: Jagla, B.; Aulner, N.; Kelly, P. D.; Song, D.; Volchuk, A.; Zatorski, A.; Shum, D.; Mayer, T.; De Angelis, D. A.; Ouerfelli, O.; Rutishauser, U.; Rothman, J. E.
Article Title: Sequence characteristics of functional siRNAs
Abstract: RNA interference in mammalian cells is actively used to conduct genetic screens, to identify and to validate targets, and to elucidate regulators and modifiers of cellular pathways. To ensure the specificity and efficacy of the active 21mer siRNA molecules, it is pertinent to develop a strategy for their rational design. Here we show that most functional siRNAs have characteristic sequence features. We tested 601 siRNAs targeting one exogenous and three endogenous genes. The efficacy of the siRNAs was determined at the protein level. Using a decision tree algorithm in combination with information analysis, our analyses revealed four sets of rules with a mean knockdown efficacy ranging from 60% to 73%. (To distinguish between percentages used to describe the quality of an siRNA and the percentages used to describe parts of data sets we underlined the former throughout this paper.) The best rule comprises an A/U at positions 10 and 19, a G/C at position 1, and more than three A/Us between positions 13 and 19, in the sense strand of the siRNA sequence. Using these rules, there is a 99.9% chance of designing an effective siRNA in a set of three with more than 50% knockdown efficiency in a biological readout. Copyright © 2005 The RNA Society.
Keywords: controlled study; human cell; sequence analysis; mammalia; gene targeting; small interfering rna; rna interference; algorithm; data analysis; gene silencing; molecular model; knockout gene; rna sequence; decision theory; rna analysis; decision tree algorithm; sirna design
Journal Title: RNA
Volume: 11
Issue: 6
ISSN: 1355-8382
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press  
Date Published: 2005-06-01
Start Page: 864
End Page: 872
Language: English
DOI: 10.1261/rna.7275905
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC1370771
PUBMED: 15923373
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 65" - "Export Date: 24 October 2012" - "CODEN: RNARF" - "Source: Scopus"
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MSK Authors
  1. Thomas Mayer
    5 Mayer
  2. James E Rothman
    120 Rothman
  3. Nathalie Aulner
    1 Aulner
  4. Allen Volchuk
    10 Volchuk
  5. Bernd A Jagla
    2 Jagla
  6. Ouathek Ouerfelli
    102 Ouerfelli
  7. David Shum
    54 Shum
  8. Da Song
    2 Song
  9. Peter Kelly
    1 Kelly