TY - JOUR
T1 - Transgene overexpression with cognate small interfering RNA in tobacco
AU - Tomita, Rie
AU - Hamada, Tatsurou
AU - Horiguchi, Gorou
AU - Iba, Koh
AU - Kodama, Hiroaki
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by a Grant-in Aid for Scientific Research (14540588) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan.
PY - 2004/8/27
Y1 - 2004/8/27
N2 - Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are a key component of RNA silencing, including cosuppression. Here, we show an example in which siRNA does not serve in the downregulation of target genes. A tobacco endoplasmic reticulum ω-3 fatty acid desaturase (NtFAD3) catalyzes the formation of α-linolenate (18:3). Introduction of the NtFAD3 gene into tobacco plants caused strong reduction of 18:3 content in leaf tissues, which is associated with the production of the NtFAD3 siRNAs. However, this silencing effect was lacking in the root tissues. Both the introduced NtFAD3 and endogenous NtFAD3 genes were expressed successfully, and the roots showed increased 18:3 phenotype. Surprisingly, the NtFAD3 siRNAs were produced even in the root tissues. Expression of a hairpin double-stranded RNA against the NtFAD3 gene caused efficient reduction of 18:3 content in root tissues. Therefore, cosuppression of the NtFAD3 gene in tobacco appears to include an as yet unidentified developmental stage and tissue-specific mechanism of regulation of siRNA function.
AB - Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are a key component of RNA silencing, including cosuppression. Here, we show an example in which siRNA does not serve in the downregulation of target genes. A tobacco endoplasmic reticulum ω-3 fatty acid desaturase (NtFAD3) catalyzes the formation of α-linolenate (18:3). Introduction of the NtFAD3 gene into tobacco plants caused strong reduction of 18:3 content in leaf tissues, which is associated with the production of the NtFAD3 siRNAs. However, this silencing effect was lacking in the root tissues. Both the introduced NtFAD3 and endogenous NtFAD3 genes were expressed successfully, and the roots showed increased 18:3 phenotype. Surprisingly, the NtFAD3 siRNAs were produced even in the root tissues. Expression of a hairpin double-stranded RNA against the NtFAD3 gene caused efficient reduction of 18:3 content in root tissues. Therefore, cosuppression of the NtFAD3 gene in tobacco appears to include an as yet unidentified developmental stage and tissue-specific mechanism of regulation of siRNA function.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.febslet.2004.07.063
DO - 10.1016/j.febslet.2004.07.063
M3 - Article
C2 - 15327985
AN - SCOPUS:4344673602
SN - 0014-5793
VL - 573
SP - 117
EP - 120
JO - FEBS Letters
JF - FEBS Letters
IS - 1-3
ER -