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Figure 1 | BMC Biology

Figure 1

From: Hidden reach of the micromanagers

Figure 1

A model for the propensity for off-target hits in siRNA screens. Shown is a hypothetical, directed acyclic network or pathway with multiple branches contributing to a complex phenotype. This scheme resembles current views on extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways that drive cell-survival decisions [10]. (a) Some siRNAs may be effective at disrupting a pathway. An siRNA targeting a root node (blue line) will disrupt all downstream flow through the pathway. (b) Other siRNAs may be ineffective at disrupting a pathway. For example, an siRNA targeting a daughter node (magenta) will be ineffective at inhibiting downstream flow because it does not block all parallel paths to the phenotype. (c) microRNA-like hits (yellow) may be more effective pathway blockers. Because microRNAs have multiple targets, they can block multiple paths to a phenotype.

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