RNA-Mediated Gene Silencing in Monokaryons and Dikaryons of Schizophyllum commune |
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Authors: | Jan F de Jong Heine J Deelstra Han A B Wsten and Luis G Lugones |
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Institution: | Jan F. de Jong, Heine J. Deelstra, Han A. B. Wösten, and Luis G. Lugones |
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Abstract: | Disruption of genes by homologous recombination occurs at a low frequency in the basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune. For instance, the SC3 and SC15 genes were inactivated at frequencies of 1 and 5%, respectively. As an alternative to disruption, we used gene silencing through the introduction of a hairpin construct. The SC15 gene, which encodes an abundantly secreted structural protein, was silenced at a frequency of 80% in monokaryons of S. commune after introduction of a hairpin construct of the gene. Silencing also occurred in dikaryons in which one of the partners was not a silenced strain. The silencing mechanism resembles RNAi in other filamentous fungi and is a powerful tool for the functional analysis of genes expressed in monokaryons or dikaryons. |
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