Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026
08:30
RNAi Interference by dsRNA Injection into Drosophila Embryos
Published on: April 11, 2011
RNAi interference by dsRNA injection into Drosophila embryos
Ekaterini Iordanou1, Rachana R Chandran, Nicholas Blackstone
1Department of Biological Sciences, Oakland University, USA.
Journal of Visualized Experiments : Jove
|April 21, 2011
Summary
RNA interference (RNAi) in Drosophila embryos provides a simple method to study gene function in organ development. This technique successfully knocked down the dysfusion gene, revealing its role in tracheal tube formation.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Genetic screening offers insights into complex biological processes.
- RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful reverse genetic tool for analyzing gene function in Drosophila organ development.
- Drosophila tracheal formation serves as a model for studying the morphogenesis of branched tubular organs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a detailed method for dsRNA injection into Drosophila embryos to knockdown gene expression.
- To investigate the role of the dysfusion (dys) gene in Drosophila tracheal development using RNAi.
Main Methods:
- Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) injection into Drosophila embryos.
- RNA interference (RNAi) to knockdown specific gene expression.
- Analysis of tracheal system development in genetically manipulated Drosophila.
Main Results:
- Successfully knocked down endogenous dysfusion (dys) gene expression via dsRNA injection.
- Dysfusion protein is essential for tracheal branch fusion in Drosophila.
- dys-RNAi resulted in complete elimination of dys expression and a tracheal fusion defect.
Conclusions:
- dsRNA injection is an effective method for gene knockdown in Drosophila embryos.
- This technique provides a valuable tool for identifying genes involved in tissue and organ development.
- Understanding gene function in Drosophila tracheal development contributes to broader knowledge of organ morphogenesis.
Related Concept Videos
02:15Experimental RNAi
RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular mechanism that inhibits gene expression by suppressing its transcription or activating the RNA degradation process. The mechanism was discovered by Andrew Fire and Craig Mello in 1998 in plants. Today, it is observed in almost all eukaryotes, including protozoa, flies, nematodes, insects, parasites, and mammals. This precise cellular mechanism of gene silencing has been developed into a technique that provides an efficient way to identify and determine the...
01:23RNA Interference
RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
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...
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...
01:23RNA Interference
RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
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...
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...
02:30siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs
Small interfering RNAs, or siRNAs, are short regulatory RNA molecules that can silence genes post-transcriptionally, as well as the transcriptional level in some cases. siRNAs are important for protecting cells against viral infections and silencing transposable genetic elements.
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the ATP-dependent...
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the ATP-dependent...
02:57piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs
PIWI-interacting RNAs, or piRNAs, are the most abundant short non-coding RNAs. More than 20,000 genes have been found in humans that code for piRNAs while only 2000 genes have been found for miRNAs. piRNAs can act at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels and have a vital role in silencing transposable elements present in germ cells. They are also involved in epigenetic silencing and activation. Previously, they were thought to function only in germ cells but new evidence suggests...