Functions of Rdp1 in gene-silencing processes

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RNA interference (RNAi) is arguably the most important biological discovery of the past 10-15 years. The application of this technology to molecular medicine has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of many genetic diseases (cancer) and infectious diseases (AIDS, Hepatitis C). Large scale RNAi screens are now being used to systematically knockout the function of known genes in many organisms. The rationale is that by understanding how genes function in the context of normal cellular physiology, we will be in a stronger position to appreciate the molecular mechanisms of genetic diseases. In addition, RNAi can be used to regulate gene expression in organisms much easier than conventional knockout technologies which typically rely on homologous recombination. In plants and fungi, RNAi-dependent gene-silencing requires the activity of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. This enzyme is required for silencing chromatin in the nucleus as well as post-transcriptional gene-silencing in the cytoplasm. Our laboratory is engaged in understanding how this enzyme functions to requlate two genetically and biochemically distinct gene-silencing pathways in the nucleus and cytoplasm. The outcome of these studies may have implications for regulating gene expression in commercially and/or medically important plant varieities.