title: Functional analysis of the cellulose gene of the pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, using RNA interference.
abstract: Cellulases  are pathogenic substances suspected to be responsible for the development of  the early symptoms of nematode disease. The pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus  xylophilus (Parasitaphelenchidae), is the causal agent of pine wilt  disease, which kills millions of pine trees. We used RNA interference (RNAi), a  reverse genetic tool, to analyze the function of the endo-β-1,4-glucanase gene of B.  xylophilus, which causes the most serious forest tree disease in China and  the rest of eastern Asia. Silencing of this gene was detected through real-time  PCR and cellulase activity assays after soaking for 24 h in dsRNA. The  cellulase gene silencing effects differed among various siRNAs. The propagation  and dispersal ability of these nematodes decreased when the endo-β-1,4-glucanase gene was silenced.  It is important to select an effective siRNA before performing an RNAi test.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Forest Protection, State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: X Y
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002480:Cellulase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism*; D044643:Glucan 1,4-beta-Glucosidase / Q000378:metabolism; D005959:Glucosidases / Q000378:metabolism; D028223:Pinus / Q000469:parasitology*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000469:parasitology; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D017187:Tylenchida / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D014934:Wood / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D002482:Cellulose; D005959:Glucosidases; D002480:Cellulase; D044643:Glucan 1,4-beta-Glucosidase