R2D2: an enzyme of RNA silencing

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R2D2: an enzyme of RNA silencing
United States Patent 7,144,714
Wang , et al.
December 5, 2006
Inventors: Wang; Xiaodong (Dallas, TX), Liu; Qinghua (Dallas, TX)
Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System (Austin, TX)
Appl. No.: 10/670,626
Filed: September 25, 2003
Abstract
Methods for making siRNA comprise recombinantly coexpressing a Dicer protein with an R2D2 protein to form a complex comprising the R2D2 protein and the Dicer protein, and contacting the complex with a double-stranded (ds) RNA under conditions wherein the complex cleaves the dsRNA into siRNA. The R2D2 protein may be a Drosophila R2D2 protein and the Dicer protein may be a Drosophila Dicer-2 protein. The Dicer protein and the R2D2 protein may be coexpressed in insect cells, such as S2, Sf9 or Hi5 cells, using a baculovirus expression system.