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Gene Expression & Silencing

Sigma-Aldrich® Advanced Genomics is the leading provider of gene editing and silencing technologies including CRISPR, Cas9, synthetic guide RNA (sgRNA), and Zinc Finger Nuclease (ZFN).

Modulating gene expression is one of the most powerful techniques employed by researchers investigating the complex genetic networks governing biological processes. In particular, gene modulation experiments are used extensively to identify therapeutics effective in combatting diseases ranging from cancer to developmental and neurodegenerative disorders.

Numerous technologies exist for the effective regulation of gene expression in cells and tissues. RNAi (RNA interference) is a natural biological mechanism wherein siRNA (short interfering RNA) duplexes induce potent, targeted inhibition of gene expression. SigmaAldrich® Advanced Genomics has been a leader in developing commercial RNAi products for researchers.

More recently, the development of CRISPR inhibition (CRISPRi) and CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) gives researchers a powerful new set of tools that allows for almost unlimited gene regulation options. Utilizing the unparalleled portfolio of CRISPR products from SigmaAldrich® Advanced Genomics, researchers are able to accurately and efficiently knock-down, knock-out, activate or overexpress virtually any gene.

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Related Protocols

Find More Articles and Protocols

Diagram showing the mechanistic flow of shRNA and siRNA mediated gene silencing in cells.

Diagram showing the mechanistic flow of shRNA and siRNA mediated gene silencing in cells.

RNAi - Gene Modulation to Illuminate Genetic Pathways

Functional genomics screens are an integral part of discovery research, allowing you to unravel the mechanisms that belie biological systems, pathways, and diseases. Effective interrogation of these complex molecular interaction networks can be accomplished using shRNA libraries to deliver reliable, efficient, and long-term knockdown.

Sigma-Aldrich® Advanced Genomics is the exclusive provider of the TRC1.5 and TRC2 collections from The RNAi Consortium (TRC). These lentivirus-based shRNA libraries deliver unparalleled coverage and are available in multiple formats that include whole-genome, individual RNAi clones/vectors, and gene family sets.

CRISPRi and CRISPRa - Powerful Gene Inhibition and Activation

CRISPRi (CRISPR interference) and CRISPRa (CRISPR activation) deliver highly efficient silencing and activation of genes, respectively, without altering the underlying DNA sequence. When employed in large scale LOF (loss-of-function) and GOF (gain-of-function) screens, researchers are able to identify unique, yet functionally related, gene pathways that are often missed with other methods.

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Schematic diagrams of CRISPRa with the Synergystic Activation Mediator complex (SAM) and CRISPRi using the KRAB domain.

Sigma-Aldrich® Advanced Genomics offers a complete suite of optimized CRISPRi and CRISPRa libraries for gene knockdown and overexpression experiments. Pooled CRISPRi and SAM CRISPRa lentiviral libraries are available off-the-shelf or customized to your specific needs.

Wondering if CRISPR is right for your project? Connect with a Sigma-Aldrich® Advanced Genomics Expert.

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Related Resources

Cas9-GFP Fusion Proteins
RNAi Brochure
TRC Vector Maps
shRNA FAQs

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Advanced Gene Editing
An overview of CRISPR/Cas9 and ZFN principles and techniques, and their implementation in targeted genome editing and genome engineering for research and therapeutic applications.
Functional Genomics Screening
Principles of functional genomics screening in the identification of target genes through phenotypic analysis to elucidate cellular pathways and disease states and facilitate drug target identification. Includes discussion of the use of RNAi and CRISPR/Cas9 libraries for high-throughput analysis.
DNA & RNA Purification
Overview of common techniques and downstream applications for extraction and purification of genomic DNA, plasmid DNA, and total RNA from cells, tissue, blood, viruses, and other sample types.
PCR Applications
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a technique for amplifying nucleic acid molecules and is commonly used in many applications, including RT-PCR, hot start PCR, end point PCR and more.
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Quantitative PCR (qPCR) or quantitative Real-Time PCR applications, utilizing fluorescent report molecules, suitable for your microRNA, genotyping, and gene expression analyses.
Cloning & Expression
Cloning, protein expression vectors and techniques for optimal gene cloning and protein expression systems.
Next Gen Sequencing
Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) reagents and resources for massively parallel sequencing applications.
Epigenetics
Epigenetics tools and techniques for researching the complexities of epigenetic mechanisms including DNA methylation, histone modification, and RNA regulation.
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