Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2006 Feb;49(2):69-84.
doi: 10.1007/s00294-005-0042-1. Epub 2005 Nov 25.

RNA silencing in Chlamydomonas: mechanisms and tools

Michael Schroda  1
Affiliations
Review

RNA silencing in Chlamydomonas: mechanisms and tools

Michael Schroda. Curr Genet. 2006 Feb.

Abstract

The generation of a comprehensive EST library and the sequencing of its genome set the stage for reverse genetics approaches in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. However, these also require tools for the specific downregulation of target gene expression. Consequently, a large number of diverse constructs were developed aimed at reducing target gene expression in Chlamydomonas via the stable expression of antisense or inverted repeat-containing RNA. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) generated by the annealing of antisense and sense RNAs or by hairpin formation of an inverted repeat, feeds into the RNA silencing pathway. In this pathway, dsRNA is cleaved into approximately 25-bp small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) by the endonuclease Dicer. One of the two complementary strands of a siRNA is then loaded onto an Argonaute-like protein present as core component within larger complexes. Guided by this single-stranded RNA, the Argonaute-like protein either detects homologous transcripts and cleaves these endonucleolytically, or initiates transcriptional gene silencing. This article summarizes current information derived mainly from the Chlamydomonas genome project on components that are assumed to be involved in RNA silencing mechanisms in Chlamydomonas. Furthermore, all approaches employed in Chlamydomonas to date to downregulate target gene expression by antisense or inverted repeat constructs are reviewed and discussed critically.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Genes Dev. 2002 Nov 1;16(21):2733-42 - PubMed
    1. Plant J. 2004 Nov;40(4):611-21 - PubMed
    1. Biochem J. 1997 Oct 1;327 ( Pt 1):51-7 - PubMed
    1. Mol Gen Genet. 1993 Jan;236(2-3):235-44 - PubMed
    1. J Biol Chem. 2005 May 27;280(21):20431-41 - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources