title: Double-stranded RNA-mediated gene silencing in fission yeast.
abstract: Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) can specifically inhibit gene expression in a variety of organisms by invoking post-transcriptional degradation of homologous mRNA. Here we show that dsRNA-mediated gene regulation also occurs in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. We present evidence that: (i) reporter gene silencing is significantly enhanced when additional non-coding sense RNA is co-expressed with antisense RNA; (ii) expression of a panhandle RNA also silences target gene expression; (iii) expression of dsRNA is associated with siRNAs; (iv) a novel host-encoded factor which enhances antisense RNA gene silencing also enhances panhandle RNA-mediated gene inhibition. Both the exogenously introduced lacZ and c-myc genes are shown to be susceptible to dsRNA- mediated gene silencing in this model. Taken together, these data indicate that RNA-mediated gene silencing can occur through a RNAi-like mechanism in fission yeast.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Mitch
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raponi
authors.forename: Greg M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Arndt
mesh_terms: D018390:Gene Targeting; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D016259:Genes, myc; D034622:RNA Interference; D016372:RNA, Antisense / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D012331:RNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000032:analysis; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces / Q000235:genetics*; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014170:Transformation, Genetic; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016372:RNA, Antisense; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D012331:RNA, Fungal; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D029702:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Proteins; D001616:beta-Galactosidase