Activation of TRF3 Transcription Factor by Small Interfering RNAs

Abstract

RNA interference (RNAi) is a conserved biological response to double-stranded RNAs that results in posttranscriptional silencing of target gene expression. Double-stranded processed RNAs of 21-23 nt were found to affect in a non-specific manner a number of signaling and transcription pathways, including interferon and PKR cascades. We report here that siRNAs induce the expression of general transcription factor TRF3, which can trigger an interferon response in mammalian cells.