Artificial Small RNAs for Functional Genomics in Plants

RNA interference (RNAi) is based on the sequence-specific degradation of target RNAs by highly complementary small RNAs (sRNAs), which can be engineered to selectively target genes of interest. In plants, artificial microRNAs (amiRNAs) and artificial/synthetic trans-acting small interfering RNAs (atasi/syn-tasiRNAs) are the two main classes of artificial small RNAs (art-sRNAs). Art-sRNAs are refined, highly specific, selective, and potent RNAi tool that has been extensively used in gene function studies and for crop improvement. Here we describe the biogenesis and function of art-sRNAs, and how they are designed and used to study the function of plant genes.