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Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Peptide-derived Method to Transport Genes and Proteins Across Cellular and Organellar Barriers in Plants
Published on: December 16, 2016
Local gene silencing in plants via synthetic dsRNA and carrier peptide
Keiji Numata1, Misato Ohtani, Takeshi Yoshizumi
1Enzyme Research Team, Biomass Engineering Program Cooperative Division, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako-shi, Saitama, Japan.
Abstract:
Quick and facile transient RNA interference (RNAi) is one of the most valuable plant biotechnologies for analysing plant gene functions. To establish a novel double-strand RNA (dsRNA) delivery system for plants, we developed an ionic complex of synthetic dsRNA with a carrier peptide in which a cell-penetrating peptide is fused with a polycation sequence as a gene carrier. The dsRNA-peptide complex is 100-300 nm in diameter and positively charged. Infiltration of the complex into intact leaf cells of Arabidopsis thaliana successfully induced rapid and efficient down-regulation of exogenous and endogenous genes such as yellow fluorescent protein and chalcone synthase. The present method realizes quick and local gene silencing in specific tissues and/or organs in plants.
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