Genome-wide RNAi as a route to gene function in Drosophila.
With the sequencing of the human genome and the genomes of most major model organisms completed, the systematic characterisation of gene functions remains a key challenge. During the past few years, RNA interference (RNAi) has become a powerful tool to silence the expression of genes and analyse their loss-of-function phenotype when mutant alleles are not available. Genome-wide RNAi screens against all predicted genes have been successfully used to dissect a variety of biological processes in Caenorhabditis elegans. Recently, a genome-wide library of double-stranded RNAs, that target every gene in the Drosophila genome and that is suitable for high throughput cell-based assays, was published. In this paper, recent advances will be summarised. Screening strategies and applications as a route to comprehensively characterising gene function will be discussed.
Kuttenkeuler
David
D
Boveri-Group Signaling and Functional Genomics, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Boutros
Michael
M
D000818:Animals; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D016678:Genome; D015698:Genomic Library; D034622:RNA Interference; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000235:genetics
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded