RNA interference and functional genomics in fungi

Abstract

During the last one decade, rapid advances have been made in the field of functional genomics research in fungi using conventional and non-conventional approaches. RNA interference (RNAi), which is a sequence specific silencing of gene at the post transcriptional level, is rapidly becoming a powerful reverse genetic tool, and its potential is also being explored in fungi to validate the gene function. Since over 40 fungal genomes have been sequenced and publicly released and some more genomes are being sequenced, the functional genomics is of utmost important to discover a great deal of new information in the coming years. This review discusses the recent progress on the utilization of RNAi technology in examining gene function in fungi.