Development of a species-specific RNA polymerase I-based shRNA expression vector.
RNA interference (RNAi) can be induced in vitro either by application of synthetic short interfering RNAs (siRNAs), or by intracellular expression of siRNAs or short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) from transfected vectors. The most widely used promoters for siRNA/shRNA expression are based on polymerase III (Pol III)-dependent transcription. We developed an alternative vector for siRNA/shRNA expression, using a mouse RNA polymerase I (Pol I) promoter. Pol I-dependent transcription serves in cells for production of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and as such, is ubiquitously and stably active in different cell types. As Pol I-dependent transcription is highly species-specific, Pol I-based system provides an important biosafety advantage with respect to silencing of genes with unknown functions.
Brenz Verca
M S
MS
Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstrasse 2-10, D-80804 Munich, Germany. mbrenz@mpipsykl.mpg.de
Weber
Peter
P
Mayer
Christine
C
Graf
Cornelia
C
Refojo
Damián
D
Kühn
Ralf
R
Grummt
Ingrid
I
Lutz
Beat
B
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D034622:RNA Interference; D012318:RNA Polymerase I / Q000378:metabolism*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism*; D022661:RNA, Untranslated / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D012318:RNA Polymerase I