Engineered dsRNA-protein nanoparticles for effective systemic gene silencing in plants

Area of Science:

• Plant molecular biology
• RNA interference (RNAi)
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Systemic delivery of exogenous RNA for gene silencing in plants remains a significant challenge.
• Previous methods for RNA delivery in plants have limitations in efficiency and scope.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential of cationized bovine serum albumin (cBSA)/double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) nanocomplexes for systemic gene silencing in plants.
• To evaluate the efficacy of this delivery system in different plant tissues and for various target genes.

Main Methods:

• Formation of nucleic acid-protein nanocomplexes using cBSA and dsRNA (dsGUS RNA).
• Local application of cBSA/dsGUS RNA nanocomplexes to tobacco and poplar plants via leaf petioles or shoots.
• Assessment of gene silencing effects on both conditionally inducible (DR5-GUS) and constitutively active (35S-GUS) genes.

Main Results:

• Successfully demonstrated long-distance, systemic gene silencing effects mediated by cBSA/dsGUS RNA nanocomplexes.
• Achieved effective silencing in various plant tissues, including leaves, shoots, and shoot meristems.
• Confirmed the efficacy of the nanocomplexes against both inducible and constitutive gene expression.

Conclusions:

• cBSA/dsRNA nanocomplexes represent a viable and effective technology for achieving systemic gene silencing in plants.
• This delivery system offers a potentially rapid, cost-effective, and versatile tool for plant gene function analysis and in planta gene editing.