Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026

RNAi Interference by dsRNA Injection into Drosophila Embryos
Published on: April 11, 2011
Evidence for Dicer-dependent RNA interference in the industrial penicillin producer Penicillium chrysogenum
Danielle Janus1, Birgit Hoff1, Ulrich Kück1
1Christian Doppler Laboratory for 'Fungal Biotechnology', Lehrstuhl für Allgemeine und Molekulare Botanik, Ruhr-Universität, Universitätsstr. 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany.
Abstract:
RNA interference (RNAi) is a sequence-specific post-transcriptional gene silencing system that downregulates target gene expression. Here, we provide several lines of evidence for RNA silencing in the industrial beta-lactam antibiotic producer Penicillium chrysogenum using the DsRed reporter gene under the control of the constitutive trpC promoter or the inducible xylP promoter. The functional RNAi system was verified by detection of siRNAs that hybridized exclusively with gene-specific (32)P-labelled RNA probes. Moreover, when RNAi was used to silence the endogenous PcbrlA morphogene that controls conidiophore development, a dramatic reduction in the formation of conidiospores was observed in 47 % of the corresponding transformants. Evidence that RNAi in P. chrysogenum is dependent on a Dicer peptide was provided with a strain lacking Pcdcl2. In the DeltaPcdcl2 background, silencing of the PcbrlA gene was tested. None of the transformants analysed showed a developmental defect. The applicability of the RNAi system in P. chrysogenum was finally demonstrated by silencing the Pcku70 gene to increase homologous recombination frequency. This led to the generation of single and double knockout mutants.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Production of Antibiotics
Experimental RNAi
RNA Interference
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis
Production of Pharmaceuticals
Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis

