Methods to identify and characterize siRNAs targeting serpin A1 in vitro and in vivo using RNA interference

Abstract

RNAi is a powerful tool that can be used to probe gene function as well as for therapeutic intervention. We describe a workflow and methods to identify screen and select potent and specific siRNAs in vitro and in vivo using qPCR-based methods as well as an AAT activity assay. We apply these techniques to a set of siRNAs targeting rat AAT, and use this set to exemplify the cell-based and in vivo data that can be generated using these methods.