Rolling circle amplification-mediated hairpin RNA (RMHR) library construction in plants

Long hairpin RNA (lhRNA) construct-induced gene silencing facilitates the study of gene function in plants and animals, but constructing multiple lhRNA vectors using traditional approaches is both time-consuming and costly. Also, most of the existing approaches are based on sequence-specific cloning of individual sequences, and are therefore not suitable for preparing hpRNA libraries from a pool of mixed target sequences. Here we describe a rolling-circle amplification (RCA)-mediated hpRNA (RMHR) construction system suitable for generating libraries of lhRNA constructs from any gene of interest or pool of genes. Using RMHR we successfully generated a lhRNA library from a Arabidopsis cDNA population containing known and unknown genes, with an average size of 500–800 bp for the inverted-repeat inserts. To validate the RMHR system, lhRNA constructs targeting the β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene were tested using Agrobacterium infiltration and shown to be effective at inducing GUS silencing in tobacco leaves. Our results indicate that the RMHR technique permits rapid, efficient and low-cost preparation of genome-wide lhRNA expression libraries.     

Generation of virus‐resistant potato plants by RNA genome targeting

CRISPR/Cas systems provide bacteria and archaea with molecular immunity against invading phages and foreign plasmids. The class 2 type VI CRISPR/Cas effector Cas13a is an RNA‐targeting CRISPR effector that provides protection against RNA phages. Here we report the repurposing of CRISPR/Cas13a to protect potato plants from a eukaryotic virus, Potato virus Y (PVY). Transgenic potato lines expressing Cas13a/sgRNA (small guide RNA) constructs showed suppressed PVY accumulation and disease symptoms. The levels of viral resistance correlated with the expression levels of the Cas13a/sgRNA construct in the plants. Our data further demonstrate that appropriately designed sgRNAs can specifically interfere with multiple PVY strains, while having no effect on unrelated viruses such as PVA or Potato virus S. Our findings provide a novel and highly efficient strategy for engineering crops with resistances to viral diseases.     

Hairpin RNA derived from viral NIa gene confers immunity to wheat streak mosaic virus infection in transgenic wheat plants

Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV), vectored by Wheat curl mite, has been of great economic importance in the Great Plains of the United States and Canada. Recently, the virus has been identified in Australia, where it has spread quickly to all major wheat growing areas. The difficulties in finding adequate natural resistance in wheat prompted us to develop transgenic resistance based on RNA interference (RNAi). An RNAi construct was designed to target the nuclear inclusion protein ‘a’ (NIa) gene of WSMV. Wheat was stably cotransformed with two plasmids: pStargate‐NIa expressing hairpin RNA (hpRNA) including WSMV sequence and pCMneoSTLS2 with the nptII selectable marker. When T₁ progeny were assayed against WSMV, ten of sixteen families showed complete resistance in transgenic segregants. The resistance was classified as immunity by four criteria: no disease symptoms were produced; ELISA readings were as in uninoculated plants; viral sequences could not be detected by RT‐PCR from leaf extracts; and leaf extracts failed to give infections in susceptible plants when used in test‐inoculation experiments. Southern blot hybridization analysis indicated hpRNA transgene integrated into the wheat genome. Moreover, accumulation of small RNAs derived from the hpRNA transgene sequence positively correlated with immunity. We also showed that the selectable marker gene nptII segregated independently of the hpRNA transgene in some transgenics, and therefore demonstrated that it is possible using these techniques, to produce marker‐free WSMV immune transgenic plants. This is the first report of immunity in wheat to WSMV using a spliceable intron hpRNA strategy.     

Rootstock‐to‐scion transfer of transgene‐derived small interfering RNAs and their effect on virus resistance in nontransgenic sweet cherry

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are silencing signals in plants. Virus‐resistant transgenic rootstocks developed through siRNA‐mediated gene silencing may enhance virus resistance of nontransgenic scions via siRNAs transported from the transgenic rootstocks. However, convincing evidence of rootstock‐to‐scion movement of siRNAs of exogenous genes in woody plants is still lacking. To determine whether exogenous siRNAs can be transferred, nontransgenic sweet cherry (scions) was grafted on transgenic cherry rootstocks (TRs), which was transformed with an RNA interference (RNAi) vector expressing short hairpin RNAs of the genomic RNA3 of Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV‐hpRNA). Small RNA sequencing was conducted using bud tissues of TRs and those of grafted (rootstock/scion) trees, locating at about 1.2 m above the graft unions. Comparison of the siRNA profiles revealed that the PNRSV‐hpRNA was efficient in producing siRNAs and eliminating PNRSV in the TRs. Furthermore, our study confirmed, for the first time, the long‐distance (1.2 m) transfer of PNRSV‐hpRNA‐derived siRNAs from the transgenic rootstock to the nontransgenic scion in woody plants. Inoculation of nontransgenic scions with PNRSV revealed that the transferred siRNAs enhanced PNRSV resistance of the scions grafted on the TRs. Collectively, these findings provide the foundation for ‘using transgenic rootstocks to produce products of nontransgenic scions in fruit trees'.     

Rapid one-step construction of hairpin RNA

Hairpin RNA (hpRNA) is commonly used for gene-function exploration and gene engineering. In this study, a novel method was developed to construct intron-containing hairpin RNA (ihpRNA) rapidly and efficiently based on Overlap Extension PCR (OE-PCR). This method, Mixed One-step OE-PCR (MOOE-PCR), can amplify two inverted repeats of DNA fragments and a spliceable intron in parallel, and then assemble them to generate ihpRNA constructs in the same tube without the purification of intermediate products. This method required a PCR process of 38-40 cycles and ordinary PCR reagents. A total of 10 ihpRNA constructs were amplified successfully using this method, with the stems ranging from 50 bp to 484 bp in length. Our results suggest that this novel method is a useful strategy for constructing ihpRNA.     

Conserved Sequences of Replicase Gene-Mediated Resistance to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Potyvirus</Emphasis> through RNA Silencing

Nuclear inclusion protein b (NIb) genes of three Potato virus Y isolates PVY-SD1 (O strain), PVY-SD4 (N strain), PVY-SD5 (NTN strain), and Tobacco etch virus isolate TEV-SD1 in Shandong Province were cloned and sequenced. Sequence analysis showed that the sequence homology of the entire NIb gene among the four viruses ranged from 65% to 95%. Hairpin RNA (hpRNA) constructs were designed based on five conserved regions derived from PVY-SD1 and introduced into tobacco plants. After asexual propagation, the transgenic plants were analyzed for resistance to PVY-SD1, PVY-SD4, PVY-SD5, and TEV-SD1. We obtained resistance ratios of 26.2%, 22.7%, 36.4%, 20.3%, and 21.7% to PVY-SD1. When inoculated with the PVY-SD5 virus, the transgenic plants had resistance ratios ranging from 2.4% to 15.9%, but no resistance at all to the other viruses, PVY-SD4 and TEV-SD1. No correlation was found between resistance of transgenic plants and the transgene copy numbers. Northern blot and small interfering RNA (siRNA) analysis demonstrated that the resistance was attributable to RNA silencing. Genetic analysis demonstrated that virus resistance was stably inherited in progeny T₁ and T₂. These results indicate that the siRNA molecules against conserved regions can confer virus resistance but are restricted to viruses with more than 90% sequence homology.     

Transient expression of artificial microRNAs targeting Grapevine fanleaf virus and evidence for RNA silencing in grapevine somatic embryos

Grapevines are affected worldwide by viruses that compromise fruit yield and quality. Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) causes fanleaf degeneration disease, a major threat to grapevine production. Transgenic approaches exploiting the RNA silencing machinery have proven suitable for engineering viral resistance in several crop species. However, the artificial microRNA (amiRNA)-based strategy has not yet been reported in grapevine. We developed two amiRNA precursors (pre-amiRNAs) targeting the coat protein (CP) gene of GFLV and characterised their functionality in grapevine somatic embryos. To create these pre-amiRNAs, natural pre-miR319a of Arabidopsis thaliana was modified by overlapping PCR in order to replace miR319a with two amiRNAs targeting different regions of the CP gene: amiR^CP-1 or amiR^CP-2. Transient expression of these two pre-amiRNA constructs was tested in grapevine somatic embryos after co-cultivation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Expression of amiR^CP-1 and amiR^CP-2 was detected in plant tissues by an endpoint stem-loop RT-PCR as early as 1?day after a 48-h co-cultivation, indicating active processing of pre-amiRNAs by the plant machinery. In parallel, GUS-sensor constructs (G^CP-1 and G^CP-2) were obtained by fusing the target sequence of amiR^CP-1 or amiR^CP-2 to the 3?? terminus of the GUS gene. Co-transformation assays with GUS-sensors and the pre-amiRNA constructs provided evidence for in vivo recognition and cleavage of the 21-nt target sequence of GUS-sensors by the corresponding amiRNA. This is the first report of amiRNA ectopic expression in grapevine. The constructs we developed could be useful for engineering GFLV-resistant grapes in the future.     

利用转hpRNA基因水稻抗水稻矮缩病毒

具有发夹结构的双链RNA(hairpin RNA,hpRNA)能高效诱导转录后基因沉默的发生.以水稻(Oryza sativaL.)矮缩病毒(RDV)基因组中第八片段编码区128～754 bp的序列为臂构建hpRNA,并克隆到植物表达载体pROK-2上.通过农杆菌介导的方法转化水稻"中花11".Southern blot分析表明,共获得12株阳性转化体.用带有RDV的叶蝉(Nephotettix cincticeps)接种Tl代转hpRNA水稻,结果表明转基因水稻对RDV具有高抗性或表现为症状延迟.而相同序列的有义链的转基因水稻和空载体的转基因水稻表现为典型的RDV侵染症状.HpRNA在转基因水稻中对RDV高抗性发挥重要作用.     

Transgenic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nicotiana benthamiana</Emphasis> plants resistant to cucumber green mottle mosaic virus based on RNA silencing

RNA silencing technology was used to confer resistance to cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV). Nicotiana benthamiana was transformed with a transgene designed to produce an inverted repeat RNA containing CGMMV-coat protein gene (CP) sequences, which were separated by an intron sequence, under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. We attempted to confirm the resistance of seven independent transgenic lines; five lines showed resistance to CGMMV infection. The systemic spread of virus was prevented after the inoculation of CGMMV, and the CP-specific short interfering RNA (siRNA) was detected in resistant lines. Thus, the resistance against CGMMV through RNA silencing is strong and efficient.     

RNA Interference-Based Transgenic Maize Resistant to Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus

Maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV) is a widespread pathogenic virus that causes serious loss of yield in maize (Zea mays). RNA interference (RNAi) triggered by hairpin RNA (hpRNA) transcribed from a transgenic inverted-repeat sequence is an effective way to defend against viruses in plants. In this study, an hpRNA expression vector containing a sense arm and an antisense arm of 150 bp separated by an intron of the maize actin gene was constructed to target the P1 protein (protease) gene of MDMV and used to transform Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA105. The transformed Agrobacterium strain was used to transform maize embryonic calli isolated from immature embryos by an improved culture technique. In all, 46 plants were regenerated after stringent hygromycin B selection, and 18 of them were certified to be positive by PCR amplification. Of these positive plants, 13 were grown to produce offspring, and nine were identified by Southern blotting to have the transgene integrated with one or two copies. The resistance of three T₂ lines was evaluated in a field trial of dual MDMV inoculation in two environments and was found to be improved compared with the non-transformed control. The disease indexes of the transgenic plant lines h2, 13, and h1 were not significantly different from the highly resistant control line H9-21. The viral titers of the inoculated plants were detected by double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA), and the result was in accord with the resistance evaluated in the field trial. The addition of uniconazole S3307 (0.25 mg l⁻¹) and ABT root-promoting powder (0.5 mg l⁻¹) showed a significant improvement of hardening in regenerated plantlets, which were stronger and generated a better fibrous root system than the control. This improvement could facilitate the transgenic operation of maize.     

Engineering resistance against Tobacco streak virus (TSV) in sunflower and tobacco using RNA interference

The coat protein (CP) gene of Tobacco streak virus (TSV) from sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) was amplified, cloned and sequenced. A 421 bp fragment of the TSV coat protein gene was amplified and a gene construct encoding the hairpin RNA (hpRNA) of the TSV-CP sequence was made in the plasmid pHANNIBAL. The construct contains sense and antisense CP sequences flanking a 742 bp spacer sequence (Pdk intron) under the control of the constitutive CaMV35S promoter. A 3.6 kb Not I fragment containing the hpRNA cassette (TSV-CP) was isolated from pHANNIBAL and sub-cloned into the binary vector pART27. This chimeric gene construct was then mobilized into Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404 via triparental mating using pRK2013 as a helper. Sunflower (cv. Co 4) and tobacco (cv. Petit Havana) plants were transformed with A. tumefaciens strain LBA4404 harbouring the hpRNA cassette and in vitro selection was performed with kanamycin. The integration of the transgene into the genome of the transgenic lines was confirmed by PCR analysis. Infectivity assays with TSV by mechanical sap inoculation demonstrated that both the sunflower and tobacco transgenic lines exhibited resistance to TSV infection and accumulated lower levels of TSV compared with non-transformed controls.