Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 23, 2025
10:14
Double-stranded RNA Oral Delivery Methods to Induce RNA Interference in Phloem and Plant-sap-feeding Hemipteran Insects
Published on: May 4, 2018
14.0K
Efficient artificial microRNA vectors for gene silencing in citrus
Qi Li1, Michel Canton2, Hao Wu2
1Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
Plant Cell Reports
|August 24, 2021
Summary
Three novel artificial microRNA vectors were developed and tested. These vectors demonstrate high efficiency in silencing the citrus PHYTOENE DESATURASE gene.
Area of Science:
- Plant molecular biology
- Gene silencing technologies
- Agricultural biotechnology
Background:
- The PHYTOENE DESATURASE gene is crucial for carotenoid biosynthesis in citrus.
- Effective gene silencing methods are needed for citrus functional genomics and crop improvement.
- Artificial microRNAs (amiRNAs) offer a targeted approach for gene regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To construct and validate new artificial microRNA vectors for gene silencing in citrus.
- To assess the efficiency of these novel vectors in targeting the citrus PHYTOENE DESATURASE gene.
Main Methods:
- Design and synthesis of three distinct artificial microRNA precursor sequences.
- Cloning of amiRNA precursors into plant expression vectors.
- Transformation of citrus plants or cells with the constructed vectors.
- Quantitative analysis of PHYTOENE DESATURASE gene expression levels post-transformation.
Main Results:
- Successful construction and characterization of three novel artificial microRNA expression vectors.
- Demonstrated significant reduction in PHYTOENE DESATURASE gene expression in citrus tissues carrying the new vectors.
- High efficiency of gene silencing was confirmed through molecular assays.
Conclusions:
- The developed artificial microRNA vectors are effective tools for gene silencing in citrus.
- These vectors show high potential for applications in citrus functional studies and breeding programs.
- Targeted silencing of PHYTOENE DESATURASE using these vectors is feasible and efficient.
Related Concept Videos
02:15Experimental RNAi
6.5K
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...
6.5K
01:22MicroRNAs
22.5K
MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After...
22.5K
02:30siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs
17.3K
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...
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...
17.3K