title: Attenuation of white gene expression in transgenic Drosophila melanogaster: possible role of a catalytic antisense RNA.
abstract: We have transformed Drosophila melanogaster with a DNA construct encoding a catalytic antisense RNA directed against the primary white gene RNA transcript. Total RNA isolated from transformed flies was shown to catalyze the specific cleavage of in vitro transcribed substrate RNA, indicating the expression of a functional ribozyme. Moreover, transgenic lines carrying homozygous copies of this construct depict a further clear-cut reduction in eye pigmentation when present in a genetic background that has a priori reduced levels of white gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Heinrich
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tabler
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Louis
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001483:Base Sequence; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005127:Eye Color / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017344:Genes, Insect; D005813:Genes, Synthetic; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D012322:RNA Precursors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016372:RNA, Antisense / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D012322:RNA Precursors; D016372:RNA, Antisense; D016337:RNA, Catalytic; C039919:RNA, recombinant; D012313:RNA