System Biosciences launches siRNA expression libraries to target 8,500 human genes

May 6 2004

System Biosciences (SBI) has announced the launch of its first two GeneNet™ siRNA Expression Libraries made using their pFIV™ Lentiviral siRNA Expression Vectors. The siRNA libraries contain 7,500 and 43,800 siRNA template sequences that target 1,500 and 8,500 well-characterized human genes, respectively. As a unique tool that allows researchers to see the effect of many thousands of siRNA molecules on cell functions in one experiment, GeneNet Lentiviral siRNA Libraries provide a unique high-throughput approach for simultaneously discovering multiple genes that control almost any biological process or cellular response, including growth and differentiation, disease pathogenesis, and drug resistance.

High throughput gene functional analysis with these siRNA libraries will provide researchers with insight into the mechanisms controlling functional pathways and speed up discovery of new potential targets for diagnostics and therapeutics.

Dr. Alex Chenchik, vice president for SBI, notes, “As opposed to analyzing function on a gene-by-gene basis with standard siRNA approaches, these siRNA libraries enable researchers to elucidate biological functions of multiple genes simultaneously by arbitrarily and selectively inactivating expression of specific genes in the context of the living cells and model organisms. GeneNet Libraries offer the most practical and cost-effective method to perform genome-wide functional screens.”

SBI’s GeneNet siRNA Libraries uniquely combine the exceptional utility of small interfering RNA (siRNA) to knockdown or silence expression of any gene, with the efficient delivery and expression capabilities of a second generation of biosafe FIV lentiviral vector system. As opposed to collections of discrete siRNA sequences in 96-well plates, the GeneNet products are true cloned libraries pre-packaged in ready-to-use VSV-G pseudotyped viral particles.

Constructed by cloning several thousand siRNA template sequences—as many as five different sequences targeting most target genes—into the lentiviral pFIV siRNA expression vectors, the library can be transduced into both dividing and non-dividing cells, so that the individual cells express different siRNA sequences targeting different genes.

Cells from this population can then be subjected to treatment and selection for some desired phenotype or characteristic. The siRNA recovered from the selected cell population targets genes involved in the biological pathway or response being studied. The library vector construct contains the copGFP marker, a novel green fluorescent protein gene, so cells expressing siRNA can easily be visualized and selected using flow cytometry.

The GeneNet siRNA Libraries are the first of a planned series of effector libraries that will include whole genome human and mouse siRNA libraries that will provide a unique platform for a variety of genome-wide functional analyses.