RNA interference for the organizer-specific gene Xlim-1 in Xenopus embryos |
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Authors: | Nakano H Amemiya S Shiokawa K Taira M |
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Institution: | Laboratory of Molecular Embryology, Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan. |
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Abstract: | Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) interferes with gene expression in various species, a phenomenon known as RNA interference (RNAi). We show here that RNAi is also effective in modifying gene expression in Xenopus embryos. First, expression of an exogenous luciferase gene as a reporter in embryos was reduced by coinjection with dsRNA corresponding to the luciferase gene. Next, injection of dsRNA for Xlim-1, a homeobox gene suggested to be involved in Spemann organizer functions, reduced the endogenous level of Xlim-1 mRNA and produced embryos with reduced eyes or anterior truncation at high efficiency. In addition, injection of an antisense expression construct of Xlim-1 elicited phenotypes very similar to those of Xlim-1 dsRNA-injected embryos. These results indicate the effectiveness of RNAi for loss of function studies in Xenopus embryos, and the importance of Xlim-1 in head formation. |
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