A New Method for Generating Arrayed RNAi Screening Tools for Any Genome-Annotated Organism

RNA interference (RNAi) using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) is an important technology for down-regulation of gene expression and a powerful tool to study cellular processes and pathways. Previously, large collections of siRNAs were available only for traditional experimental model systems, such as human and mouse, and predominantly provided as chemically synthesized libraries. For studies in alternate species, siRNAs needed to be custom synthesized at a relatively high cost and very long manufacturing time. To improve the accessibility of these large screening libraries to researchers working in non-human or mouse model systems, we have recently developed a new cost-effective manufacturing method to enzymatically generate large collections of siRNAs, called Zoonome siRNAs (z-siRNAs). Like other well-established Dharmacon siRNA product lines, they are designed using the Dharmacon proprietary SMARTselection design algorithm for potent and specific gene expression knockdown, but are manufactured on-demand using a novel enzymatic method. Customized collections are available in arrayed plate format with a pool of four z-siRNAs per well to each gene target for screening hundreds or thousands of genes for any organism with an annotated genome. Here we show successful gene knockdown in Cricetulus griseus (Chinese hamster) and Bos taurus (bovine) cell lines using Zoonome siRNAs. With this new availability of large screening libraries, the power of unbiased functional screening in nearly any species can accelerate findings important to animal health, food safety, and infectious disease.