Sigma-Aldrich Joins Phase 2 of the RNAi Consortium to Validate shRNA Libraries
Complete the form below to unlock access to ALL audio articles.
Sigma-Aldrich™ and the second phase of The RNAi Consortium (TRC2) have commenced functional validation of the Consortium's collection of approximately 160,000 previously-cloned lentiviral-based shRNA vector constructs.
Currently, more than 5,000 clones have been tested in the functional validation process. Validated clones covering more than 700 genes are available in Sigma-Aldrich's MISSION® shRNA collection, a number expected to grow by 75,000 clones per year through 2011.
TRC2 will also generate and validate 150,000 additional clones and utilize its collection of validated shRNA libraries to develop new and improved RNAi screening strategies.
Design and development of TRC libraries is led by the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. A key goal of the Consortium is to provide at least two clones with a knockdown level of 70% or greater for every human and mouse gene over the next four years. Research will also center on alternative vector development and improved design, with the possible creation of sub-libraries.
Functional validation of these knockdown clones will provide significant time and cost savings to researchers by reducing the number of wells to screen, facilitating improved throughput. The total TRC shRNA collection will eventually comprise 300,000 pre-cloned lentiviral-based shRNA vector constructs targeting the human and mouse genomes.
Sigma-Aldrich's MISSION® shRNA portfolio is the exclusive source for researchers to access TRC and TRCII shRNA libraries in the plasmid DNA and lentiviral formats. All of the shRNA reagents will be fully functionally validated during phase 2 of The RNAi Consortium.
This validation data will be accessible to customers by request, and online, making the MISSION® portfolio the only commercially available set of RNAi reagents guaranteed to work out of the box. Sigma-Aldrich will also expand its program to promote and educate the research community about the multiple applications of RNAi technology by providing educational tools and forums.
