Gene silencing in Caenorhabditis elegans by transitive RNA interference
Abstract
When a cell is exposed to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), mRNA from the homologous gene is selectively degraded by a process called RNA interference (RNAi). Here, we provide evidence that dsRNA is amplified in Caenorhabditis elegans to ensure a robust RNAi response. Our data suggest a model in which mRNA targeted by RNAi functions as a template for 5′ to 3′ synthesis of new dsRNA (termed transitive RNAi). Strikingly, the effect is nonautonomous: dsRNA targeted to a gene expressed in one cell type can lead to transitive RNAi-mediated silencing of a second gene expressed in a distinct cell type. These data suggest dsRNA synthesized in vivo can mediate systemic RNAi.
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Footnotes
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Article and publication are at http://www.rnajournal.org/cgi/doi/10.1261/rna.2650903.
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- Accepted September 26, 2002.
- Received May 20, 2002.
- Copyright 2003 by RNA Society