title: Spatial and temporal 'knock down' of gene expression by electroporation of double-stranded RNA and morpholinos into early postimplantation mouse embryos.
abstract: Here we report the use of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and morpholino technologies to specifically 'knock down' gene expression in early postimplantation mouse embryos. Sequence specific interference mediated by either dsRNA or by morpholino has been a useful tool for studying gene function in several organisms. However, specifically for the dsRNA, doubts have been raised about whether it could successfully be applied on vertebrate embryos. We demonstrate that electroporation of dsRNA directed against Otx2 or Foxa2 into postimplantation mouse embryos results in specific knock down of the expression of the respective endogenous genes in a region- and germ-layer specific manner. We also show that electroporation of morpholino directed against Foxa2 into the node of mouse embryos leads to a specific down regulation of Foxa2 expression in the floor plate. Our results demonstrate for the first time that dsRNA and morpholino technologies can be successfully applied in early postimplantation mouse embryos to specifically knock down gene expression.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation; D018274:Electroporation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D051542:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-beta; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007763:Lac Operon; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051857:Otx Transcription Factors; D010641:Phenotype; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D013997:Time Factors; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C496503:Foxa2 protein, mouse; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D051857:Otx Transcription Factors; C497660:Otx2 protein, mouse; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051542:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-beta; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins