RNA silencing: From discovery and elucidation to application and perspectives

• Published in: Journal of integrative plant biology Vol. 64; no. 2; pp. 476 - 498
• Main Authors: Zhao, Jian‐Hua, Guo, Hui‐Shan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China (Republic : 1949- ) Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.02.2022; State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics,Institute of Microbiology,the Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100101,China; CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100049,China
• Subjects: crop protection; Eukaryotes; Gene expression; Plant protection; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; RNA silencing; RNA-mediated interference; small RNAs; trans‐kingdom RNAi; trans-kingdom RNAi; RNA silencing; crop protection; gene expression; small RNAs
• ISSN: 1672-9072; 1744-7909
• DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13213

RNA silencing (or RNA interference, RNAi) is a conserved mechanism for regulating gene expression in eukaryotes. The discovery of natural trans‐kingdom RNAi indicated that small RNAs act as signaling molecules and enable communication between organisms in different kingdoms. The phenomenon and potential mechanisms of trans‐kingdom RNAi are among the most exciting research topics. To better understand trans‐kingdom RNAi, we review the history of the discovery and elucidation of RNAi mechanisms. Based on canonical RNAi mechanisms, we summarize the major points of divergence around RNAi pathways in the main eukaryotes’ kingdoms, including plants, animals, and fungi. We review the representative incidents associated with the mechanisms and applications of trans‐kingdom RNAi in crop protection, and discuss the critical factors that should be considered to develop successful trans‐kingdom RNAi‐based crop protection strategies. This review examines the early discovery and elucidation of RNAi, summarizes the major points of divergence around RNAi pathways in different kingdoms and the representative incidents associated with transkingdom RNAi, and discusses the critical factors that should be considered to develop successful trans‐kingdom RNAi‐based crop protection strategies.