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Updated: Aug 23, 2026
Large-scale Gene Knockdown in C. elegans Using dsRNA Feeding Libraries to Generate Robust Loss-of-function Phenotypes
Published on: September 25, 2013
Endogenous inhibitors of RNA interference in Caenorhabditis elegans
1Department of Molecular Biosciences, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA. timmons@ku.edu
Abstract:
In eukaryotes, double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) or short, interfering dsRNAs (siRNAs) can reduce the accumulation of a sequence-related mRNA, often resulting in a loss-of-function phenotype-a process termed RNA interference (RNAi). Unfortunately, some mRNAs are resistant to the effects of dsRNA. Experiments designed to unravel RNAi mechanisms in Caenorhabditis elegans have led to the identification of two worm proteins, RRF-31,2 and, now, ERI-1,3 that can inhibit RNAi responses. Animals defective in either protein can display enhanced RNAi phenotypes for mRNAs that were previously resistant to dsRNA. Since ERI-1 is a conserved protein, development of procedures to enhance RNAi effectiveness in other systems may be possible.
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