Silencer® siRNA Libraries are sets of siRNAs targeting groups of genes from functional gene classes to whole genomes, so they are ideal for pathway analysis and target identification and validation. Most feature three individual siRNAs per gene for enhanced data reliability. Full siRNA sequence information is provided.

New Versions:

  • Silencer Phosphatase siRNA Library, v3
  • Silencer Druggable Human Genome siRNA Library, v3
  • Silencer Human Genome siRNA Library, v3

Maximum Potency and Specificity

The siRNAs in the Silencer Libraries have been designed by the same highly effective and extensively tested algorithm used to generate Silencer Pre-designed siRNAs. siRNAs designed with this algorithm provide potent, specific silencing. The libraries feature a combination of pre-designed siRNAs, and where available, validated siRNAs.

For enhanced data reliability, most Silencer siRNA Libraries feature three unique siRNAs per target. Screening with three individual siRNAs per gene significantly decreases both false positive and false negative rates, resulting in increased confidence in RNAi screening data, reduction in the chance that important genes will be missed, and reduction in the amount of time spent following up on false positive “hits” from the screen. Pools of siRNAs can be provided, if desired.

Flexible Formats

Standard siRNA library formats feature 96 well plates with 1 or 2 nmol siRNA per well. Empty columns provide convenience for adding controls into assay plates. However, Ambion can easily accommodate custom plating and aliquotting requests. This flexible format allows researchers to specify the amount of siRNA per well, the addition of control or other siRNAs, custom pooling of siRNAs, and even the layout of siRNAs in 96 well or 384 well plates.*

For researchers who require less of each siRNA and need a fast turnaround time, Ambion now provides its most popular kinase, phosphatase, and druggable human genome siRNA libraries in a ready-to-ship format that includes 0.25 nmol of each siRNA (Figure 1). This amount is sufficient for >80 transfections of each siRNA at 30 nM in 96 well plates.


Figure 3. mRNA Profiles of Mouse Tissues Stored in RNAlater. Various mouse tissues were stored in RNAlater for 1 or 4 weeks at 4°C. RNA was isolated from each tissue and analyzed using the RPA III™ Kit. 10 µg of total RNA was hybridized with 5 x 104 cpm of each of 5 combined antisense RNA probes, digested with RNase and precipitated. Products were assessed on a 5% polyacrylamide / 8 M urea gel and exposed to film for 4 hours at -80°C with an intensifying screen.


Figure 1. Updated Silencer® siRNA Libraries. siRNAs in version 3 of the Human Genome siRNA Library target genes contained in RefSeq Release 15.

New Up-to-Date Versions

Genomic and transcriptome information is being added to public databases at a rapid pace. Ambion’s newest versions (v3) of the Silencer Human Genome and Druggable Human Genome siRNA Libraries have been updated based on recent NCBI database releases. In addition, these new versions include more validated siRNAs, and the druggable genome siRNA library targets an expanded set of genes, compared to previous versions (Figure 2).

With highly functional, specific siRNAs in pre-defined and custom sets, Silencer siRNA Libraries provide an unprecedented opportunity for rapid, high throughput identification and validation of gene targets in your pathway analysis or drug discovery research.



Figure 3. mRNA Profiles of Mouse Tissues Stored in RNAlater. Various mouse tissues were stored in RNAlater for 1 or 4 weeks at 4°C. RNA was isolated from each tissue and analyzed using the RPA III™ Kit. 10 µg of total RNA was hybridized with 5 x 104 cpm of each of 5 combined antisense RNA probes, digested with RNase and precipitated. Products were assessed on a 5% polyacrylamide / 8 M urea gel and exposed to film for 4 hours at -80°C with an intensifying screen.


Figure 2. Version 3 of the Silencer® Human Druggable Genome siRNA Library and the Human Extended Druggable Genome siRNA Library. siRNAs in version 3 of the Silencer Human Druggable Genome siRNA Library target 7,784 genes that belong to the functional classes described in the pie chart and table (black text). For more extensive coverage, the Human Extended Druggable Genome siRNA Library targets 9,102 genes (black and green text)—including transcription factors and cofactors, cell junction proteins, chaperones, membrane traffic proteins, and extracellular matrix proteins.

*Customization is available for libraries that include >1 nmol of each siRNA.