Figure 1.

Schematic drawing of the pSilencer1.0_U6 vector. The U6-RNA promoter was cloned in front of the gene-specific targeting sequence (19-nucleotide sequences from the target transcript separated by a short spacer from the reverse complement of the same sequence) and six thymidines (T₆) as a termination signal. The predicted secondary structure of the pSilencer–c-Myc transcript target c-Myc is shown. The transcript, a short hairpin double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), is believed to be further cleaved by Dicer to generate a 21-nucleotide siRNA that forms dsRNA–endonuclease complexes and will bind and destroy c-myc mRNA.