title: Local gene silencing in plants via synthetic dsRNA and carrier peptide.
abstract: Quick and facile transient RNA interference (RNAi) is one of the most valuable plant biotechnologies for analysing plant gene functions. To establish a novel double-strand RNA (dsRNA) delivery system for plants, we developed an ionic complex of synthetic dsRNA with a carrier peptide in which a cell-penetrating peptide is fused with a polycation sequence as a gene carrier. The dsRNA-peptide complex is 100-300 nm in diameter and positively charged. Infiltration of the complex into intact leaf cells of Arabidopsis thaliana successfully induced rapid and efficient down-regulation of exogenous and endogenous genes such as yellow fluorescent protein and chalcone synthase. The present method realizes quick and local gene silencing in specific tissues and/or organs in plants.
authors.affiliation: Enzyme Research Team, Biomass Engineering Program Cooperative Division, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako-shi, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Numata
authors.forename: Misato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohtani
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshizumi
authors.forename: Taku
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Demura
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kodama
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D020868:Gene Silencing; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics; D034622:RNA Interference; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded
keywords: dsRNA; fusion peptide; gene carrier; gene delivery; intact plant; local RNAi