Combinatorial RNAi: a method for evaluating the functions of gene families in Drosophila.
Individual members of gene families often have partially redundant functions during nervous system development, making conventional genetic analysis problematic. Here we review experiments showing that several genes can be silenced together by injection of double-stranded RNAs into wild-type Drosophila embryos. By dye-labeling single neuroblasts in injected embryos, the effects of multigene silencing on individual CNS axon pathways can now be examined.
Schmid
Aloisia
A
Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA. Aloisia.T.Schmid@am.pnu.com
Schindelholz
Benno
B
Zinn
Kai
K
D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D020868:Gene Silencing / Q000187:drug effects; D008845:Microinjections; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded