Tandem inverted repeat system for selection of effective transgenic RNAi strains in Chlamydomonas.
RNA interference (RNAi), the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) triggered post-transcriptional gene silencing, is becoming a powerful tool for reverse genetics studies. Stable RNAi, induced by the expression of inverted repeat (IR) transgenes, has been achieved in protozoa, algae, fungi, plants, and metazoans. However, the level of gene silencing is often quite variable, depending on the type of construct, transgene copy number, site of integration, and target gene. This is a hindrance in functional genomics studies, where it is desirable to suppress target genes reliably to analyze unknown phenotypes. Consequently, we explored strategies for direct selection of effective transgenic RNAi lines in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. We initially attempted to suppress expression of the Rubisco small subunit multigene family by placing an IR, homologous to the conserved coding sequence, in the 3'UTR of a transgene conferring resistance to bleomycin. However, this approach was fairly inefficient at inducing RNAi as many strains displayed defective transgene integration, resulting in partial or complete deletion of the IR, or low levels of dsRNA expression, presumably due to transcriptional silencing of the integrated IR transgenes. To overcome these problems we designed a system consisting of tandem IR transgenes that consistently triggered co-silencing of a gene with a selectable RNAi-induced phenotype (encoding tryptophan synthase beta subunit) and another gene of interest (encoding either Ku80, an RNA-binding protein, or a thioredoxin isoform). We anticipate that this approach will be useful for generating stable hypomorphic epi-mutants in high-throughput phenotypic screens.
Rohr
Jennifer
J
School of Biological Sciences and Plant Science Initiative, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, E215 Beadle Center, PO Box 880666, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA.
Sarkar
Nandita
N
Balenger
Susan
S
Jeong
Byeong-ryool
BR
Cerutti
Heriberto
H
D000818:Animals; D002696:Chlamydomonas / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005810:Multigene Family; D030781:Organisms, Genetically Modified; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D034622:RNA Interference; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D012641:Selection, Genetic
D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D012313:RNA