Functional RNAs as Tools in Proteomics

Ribozymes and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) as well as non-natural RNA molecules, such as aptamers, can be used for detection and modulation of gene function at RNA and protein levels. These technologies provide overlapping and complementary methods to antibody-based protein detection. Functional RNAs offer easy to design and simple tools for understanding the function of genes and their products and have potential as therapeutic agents. We review here the advances made with functional RNAs, and illustrate their promise as tools for both in vitro and in vivo proteomic studies.