A link between mRNA turnover and RNA interference in Arabidopsis

In RNA interference (RNAi), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) triggers degradation of homologous messenger RNA. In many organisms, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) is required to initiate or amplify RNAi, but the substrate for dsRNA synthesis in vivo is not known. Here, we show that RdRp-dependent transgene silencing in Arabidopsis was caused by mutation of XRN4, which is a ribonuclease (RNase) implicated in mRNA turnover by means of decapping and 5'-3' exonucleolysis. When both XRN4 and the RdRp were mutated, the plants accumulated decapped transgene mRNA. We propose that mRNAs lacking a cap structure become exposed to RdRp to initiate or maintain RNAi.     

利用RNAi技术沉默麦长管蚜与桃蚜细胞色素P450

【目的】通过体外饲喂双链RNA（dsRNA）,利用RNAi技术沉默麦长管蚜和桃蚜体内细胞色素P450。【方法】采用PCR克隆获得麦长管蚜和桃蚜体内细胞色素P450片段;利用双链RNA合成试剂盒合成麦长管蚜和桃蚜细胞色素P450保守序列的dsRNA;在蚜虫人工饲料中,分别加入终浓度为0、3、5和7.5 ng•μL-1的dsRNA,每个试验组设置3个重复,分别于饲喂后2天、4天、6天、8天统计蚜虫的存活数;利用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析饲喂后目标基因的表达抑制情况。【结果】从麦长管蚜与桃蚜的cDNA中分别克隆细胞色素P450,所克隆片段同源性为90.1%,发现随着dsRNA浓度的增大,麦长管蚜和桃蚜的死亡率随着时间的推移不断升高,最高死亡率可分别达75.56%和64.44%。提取饲喂dsRNA浓度为7.5 ng•μL-1的不同时间段的蚜虫总RNA,实时荧光定量PCR结果表明,目的基因被沉默。【结论】利用麦长管蚜和桃蚜细胞色素P450保守序列的dsRNA,体外饲喂后,通过RNA干扰（RNAi）,能够显著降低蚜虫体内细胞色素P450的表达水平,直至导致目的基因沉默和蚜虫死亡。     

RNAi的研究进展(英文)

RNAi是由与靶基因同源的内源或外源双链RNA(doublestrandedRNA,dsRNA)所引发的一种在动植物中普遍存在的基因沉默现象。它最早在植物体中被发现,现在已发展成为一种生物技术,并成为了后基因时代的重要研究手段。对RNAi技术在生物基础、医学、药学、植物学等领域的研究成果进行了综述。     

RNAi及其在哺乳动物中的应用*

 RNA干扰(RNAi)是由特定双链RNA(dsRNA)引发的转录后基因沉默,广泛存在于真菌、植物和动物中,它是近年来迅速发展起来的高效、特异、易操作的基因阻断技术,在功能基因组的研究中有着广阔的应用前景。研究表明,断裂dsRNA产生的小干扰RNA(siRNA)可抑制哺乳动物基因表达。从哺乳动物整体水平应用研究的角度,对RNAi的分子机制、生物学功能和特点,siRNA导入体内的方法以及应用等方面的研究作一综述。     

RNA干涉及其应用

在各种各样的真核生物当中,双链RNA(dsRNA)促使了有效的同源mRNA分子降解,这个过程被称为RNA干扰(RNAi)。RNAi现象通过调控RNA抑制基因表达,它在植物、动物、真菌中广泛存在,被认为是一种抑制病毒性复制和转座子活动的抗御机制,而在此过程中,侵染型病毒为了能够不被这种机制干扰抑制,继续在寄主体内生存、繁殖,则产生了一种反抗御机制———即产生抑制蛋白来对付转录后基因沉默(PTGS)。对RNAi以及RNAi抑制物的作用机制、抑制物类型、特点及相关应用方面作了比较详尽的综述。dsRNA介导的PTGS将是分子生物学领域的研究热点之一,在研究基因功能,基因治疗,抗病毒基因工程,解剖和调控次生代谢途径等方面有着广泛的应用前景。     

东亚三角涡虫DjStag基因干扰载体的构建及干扰效果鉴定

 构建DjStag基因的RNA干扰表达载体,诱导表达产生dsRNA后喂食涡虫,观察DjStag表达变化及对涡虫再生的影响。本文以含有东亚三角涡虫DjStag基因的pcDNA3 DjStag重组质粒为模板,经PCR 扩增目的片段,将其克隆到干扰载体L4440 上,构建重组质粒L4440 DjStag后转化入大肠杆菌HT115感受态细胞中, IPTG 诱导表达dsRNA后喂食涡虫。显微观察涡虫再生过程中的表型变化,Real time PCR检测干扰后涡虫DjStag基因表达的变化。结果表明,成功构建了DjStag基因的RNA干扰表达载体;DjStag基因 RNA干扰后,涡虫不能正常再生,再生片段显示出明显的再生缺陷;涡虫体内DjStag基因的表达受到抑制,DjStag mRNA的表达水平显著下降。     

A role for the RNase III enzyme DCR-1 in RNA interference and germ line development in Caenorhabditis elegans

An early event in RNA interference (RNAi) is the cleavage of the initiating double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to short pieces, 21 to 23 nucleotides in length. Here we describe a null mutation in dicer-1 (dcr-1), a gene proposed to encode the enzyme that generates these short RNAs. We find that dcr-1(-/-) animals have defects in RNAi under some, but not all, conditions. Mutant animals have germ line defects that lead to sterility, suggesting that cleavage of dsRNA to short pieces is a requisite event in normal development.     

Endogenous siRNAs derived from transposons and mRNAs in Drosophila somatic cells

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) direct RNA interference (RNAi) in eukaryotes. In flies, somatic cells produce siRNAs from exogenous double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) as a defense against viral infection. We identified endogenous siRNAs (endo-siRNAs), 21 nucleotides in length, that correspond to transposons and heterochromatic sequences in the somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster. We also detected endo-siRNAs complementary to messenger RNAs (mRNAs); these siRNAs disproportionately mapped to the complementary regions of overlapping mRNAs predicted to form double-stranded RNA in vivo. Normal accumulation of somatic endo-siRNAs requires the siRNA-generating ribonuclease Dicer-2 and the RNAi effector protein Argonaute2 (Ago2). We propose that endo-siRNAs generated by the fly RNAi pathway silence selfish genetic elements in the soma, much as Piwi-interacting RNAs do in the germ line.     

东亚飞蝗几丁质酶家族基因的表达特性与功能研究

 【目的】研究东亚飞蝗几丁质酶家族基因的时空表达特性及其在蜕皮发育中的生物学功能,筛选在飞蝗发育过程中致死性的几丁质酶基因,为实现基于RNAi的飞蝗有效控制提供重要的基础数据。【方法】在东亚飞蝗EST数据库搜索几丁质酶基因片段,用生物信息学方法分析所获得的基因片段序列;以飞蝗不同龄期第4天若虫和5龄东亚飞蝗不同组织部位为材料提取RNA并反转录为cDNA,应用RT-PCR方法研究时空表达特性;选取在表皮高表达的几丁质酶基因LmCht6,采用RNA干扰方法研究其生物学功能。【结果】基于东亚飞蝗EST库搜索和进一步的序列分析,共获得7条几丁质酶基因片段;不同组织部位与不同龄期RT-PCR结果表明这7条几丁质酶基因的时空表达特性存在明显差异,其中LmCht6主要在表皮表达;LmCht6的RNA干扰试验表明：2龄飞蝗注射dsLmCht6后,其几丁质酶基因LmCht6表达量明显降低;飞蝗从2龄到3龄的龄期转化过程中,表现为发育延迟,新表皮与旧表皮无法完全分离,导致死亡率达到72.2%。【结论】东亚飞蝗拥有多个几丁质酶基因,它们的时空表达特性存在差异;LmCht6在飞蝗蜕皮过程中具有十分重要的生物学功能,该基因被沉默后飞蝗无法完成蜕皮而导致死亡。     

灰飞虱体内水稻条纹病毒基因的RNA干扰效应

【目的】探讨利用RNA干扰技术切断灰飞虱体内水稻条纹病毒（Rice stripe virus,RSV）繁殖的可行性,研究RSV病毒不同基因间的互作关系。【方法】利用喂食的方法测定体外合成的dsRNA对灰飞虱体内RSV基因表达的抑制作用。根据RSV基因序列设计并合成3种dsRNA（dsRdRp、dsNSvc4和dsCP）,分别喂食携带RSV病毒的2龄灰飞虱,96 h后利用荧光定量PCR技术同时检测灰飞虱体内RSV病毒不同基因RdRp、NSvc4和CP的表达量。【结果】经过特异性dsRNA喂食处理的灰飞虱体内RSV病毒靶基因NSvc4、CP的表达量大幅下调,下调幅度分别为93.2%和94.9%;靶基因RdRp表达量下调幅度为45.6%。dsRNA喂食处理对其它非靶标RSV基因的表达均具有一定的下调作用,表明RSV病毒不同基因RdRp、NSvc4和CP间可能存在互作关系。【结论】本研究为利用转dsRNA工程微生物或转基因水稻进行RSV病毒的防治提供了重要依据。     

植物中RNA干扰技术的研究与应用

RNA干扰(RNAi)是与靶基因同源的双链RNA引发的,在真菌、植物和动物中普遍存在的序列特异的转录后基因沉默(PTGS)现象。该方法的研究是目前分子生物学和基因工程领域研究的热点之一。作为反向遗传学研究的新工具,RNAi在基因功能研究、基因治疗以及病毒防治等方面发挥着巨大的作用,文章将RNAi的发现、作用机理、特点、导入思路和方法及其在植物中的广泛应用进行了综述。     

中华稻蝗几丁质酶基因10（OcCht10）的分子特性及功能

【目的】获得中华稻蝗（Oxya chinensis）几丁质酶基因10（OcCht10）的cDNA序列,预测其功能域,并做聚类分析明确该基因的系统发育关系。绘制OcCht10在5龄若虫不同组织部位和发育时间的表达图谱,研究其在中华稻蝗蜕皮过程中的生物学功能,为害虫防治提供高效安全的候选基因。【方法】从中华稻蝗转录组数据库搜索OcCht10 cDNA片段,经过blast分析、比对、拼接后,翻译为氨基酸序列,预测其功能域,并与其他昆虫几丁质酶家族基因进行聚类分析,进一步确认该基因的系统发育关系并进行准确命名;选取中华稻蝗5龄第6天不同组织部位及5龄若虫不同天数表皮样本,总RNA提取后反转录为cDNA模板,采用Real-time quantitative PCR（qPCR）方法获得OcCht10在5龄稻蝗若虫不同组织部位和不同发育阶段的表达谱;设计OcCht10 dsRNA引物,用试剂盒体外合成dsOcCht10,采用注射法进行RNA干扰;取注射24 h稻蝗表皮样本,用qPCR方法检测OcCht10基因沉默效率;并仔细观察dsRNA注射后稻蝗表型,统计其死亡率。【结果】经对中华稻蝗转录组数据库的搜索,获得OcCht10 cDNA片段长度为9 318 bp,开放阅读框为8 613 bp,编码2 870个氨基酸;其3′非编码区为705 bp,推测OcCht10 5'端有500多碱基尚未获得;预测其氨基酸序列具有多个结构域,包含有5个几丁质酶催化域和6个几丁质结合域;与其他昆虫几丁质酶基因聚类分析结果显示OcCht10属于昆虫几丁质酶家族基因Ⅱ组,该组基因与昆虫蜕皮相关;5龄若虫组织特异性分析表明该基因主要在表皮、前肠和后肠等外胚层发育而成的组织器官中表达,提示OcCht10可能参与表皮几丁质代谢;发育时间表达图谱表明该基因在5龄第6-7天,即蜕皮前的表皮中高表达,表明OcCht10可能负责蜕皮时表皮几丁质降解;5龄若虫第2天注射该基因的dsRNA,24 h后取表皮检测其干扰效率,结果显示该基因被沉默70%;与注射dsGFP的对照组相比,注射dsOcCht10 5龄若虫表现为龄期延长,旧表皮无法开裂,蜕皮受阻,昆虫无法正常活动导致死亡,死亡率达到100%。【结论】获得OcCht10的部分cDNA序列,该基因在昆虫蜕皮前表皮中高表达;OcCht10参与中华稻蝗的蜕皮发育,注射dsOcCht10可有效沉默靶基因,并导致试虫无法完成正常蜕皮而死亡。     

松材线虫细胞色素cyp-13A11基因RNA干扰载体的构建及其功能分析

[目的]构建松材线虫cyp-13A11基因RNA干扰载体,研究cyp-13A11基因的功能,为松材线虫病的生物防治提供理论依据.[方法]本文通过设计特异性引物,扩增松材线虫cyp-13A11基因片段,构建至pEASY-T1干扰载体上并转入Trans1-T1大肠杆菌菌株.采用浸泡法对松材线虫进行RNA干扰,通过qRT-P...     

Efficiency of Different Methods for dsRNA Delivery in Cotton Bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera)

RNAi trigged by dsRNA not only facilitates the development of molecular biology, but also initiates a new way for pest control by silence of fatal genes. However, one of the key limitations in pest control is lack of the convenient and efficient method for dsRNA delivery. In this study, different dsRNA delivery methods at their own optimum conditions were evaluated comparatively for their efficiency with Helicoverpa armigera as test animal. It was found that the popular one- time injection of larvae with dsRNA could reduce the pupation rate by 43.0% and enhance larva mortality by 11.7%. One- time ingestion of dsRNA did not result in any significant effect on phenotype. Continuous ingestion of in vitro synthesized dsRNA by refreshing the bait diet every day caused 40.4% decrease in successful pupation and 10.0% increase in larval mortality, which was similar as one-time injection. The most efficient method was found to be the continuous ingestion of the bacteria containing dsRNA expressed, which reduced the rate of pupation by 68.7% and enhanced the larval mortality by 34.1%. Further analysis found that dsRNA was degraded faster in midgut juice than in hemolymph. However, the cell of bacteria could protect dsRNA and delay the degradation in the midgut juice of H. armigera. These results throw light on the application of dsRNA in pest management with proper ways.     

Structural basis for double-stranded RNA processing by Dicer

The specialized ribonuclease Dicer initiates RNA interference by cleaving double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) substrates into small fragments about 25 nucleotides in length. In the crystal structure of an intact Dicer enzyme, the PAZ domain, a module that binds the end of dsRNA, is separated from the two catalytic ribonuclease III (RNase III) domains by a flat, positively charged surface. The 65 angstrom distance between the PAZ and RNase III domains matches the length spanned by 25 base pairs of RNA. Thus, Dicer itself is a molecular ruler that recognizes dsRNA and cleaves a specified distance from the helical end.     

Identification of virus-encoded microRNAs

RNA silencing processes are guided by small RNAs that are derived from double-stranded RNA. To probe for function of RNA silencing during infection of human cells by a DNA virus, we recorded the small RNA profile of cells infected by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). We show that EBV expresses several microRNA (miRNA) genes. Given that miRNAs function in RNA silencing pathways either by targeting messenger RNAs for degradation or by repressing translation, we identified viral regulators of host and/or viral gene expression.