RNA interference for analysis of gene function in trypanosomatids.

Gene-specific silencing by RNA interference is a valuable tool for analysis of gene function in the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei. The development of tetracycline-regulated vectors for production of double-stranded RNA has facilitated its widespread use. RNA interference provides a fast and efficient method for determining whether a gene is essential for growth and viability, reveals mechanistic information on gene function, and has greatly enhanced our understanding of complex biological processes. Finally, the creation of an RNA interference-based library has allowed, for the first time, an approach for conducting forward genetic experiments in this organism.