Journal Article

Targeted disruption of gene function in Drosophila by RNA interference (RNA-i): a role for nautilus in embryonic somatic muscle formation

Paterson, B.M, Misquitta, L. (NIH, Bethesda, MD.)

1999

Overview

The expression of the MyoD gene homolog, nautilus (nau), in the Drosophila embryo defines a subset of mesodermal cells known as the muscle \"pioneer\" or \"founder\" cells. These cells are thought to establish the future muscle pattern in each hemisegment. Founders appear to recruit fusion-competent mesodermal cells to establish a particular muscle fiber type. In support of this concept every somatic muscle in the embryo is associated with one or more nautilus-positive cells. However, because of the lack of known (isolated) nautilus mutations, no direct test of the founder cell hypothesis has been possible. We now have utilized toxin ablation and genetic interference by double-stranded RNA (RNA interference or RNA-i) to determine both the role of the nautilus-expressing cells and the nautilus gene, respectively, in embryonic muscle formation. In the absence of nautilus-expressing cells muscle formation is severely disrupted or absent. A similar phenotype is observed with the elimination of the nautilus gene product by genetic interference upon injection of nautilus double-stranded RNA. These results define a crucial role for nautilus in embryonic muscle formation. The application of RNA interference to a variety of known Drosophila mutations as controls gave phenotypes essentially indistinguishable from the original mutation. RNA-i provides a powerful approach for the targeted disruption of a given genetic function in Drosophila

• Publisher: National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America,National Acad Sciences,National Academy of Sciences,The National Academy of Sciences
• Subject: ANIMAL TRANSGENIQUE / ANIMALES TRANSGENICOS / Animals / ANTISENSE RNA / ARN / Biological Sciences / CELL DIFFERENTIATION / Chorion / DESARROLLO EMBRIONARIO / DEVELOPPEMENT EMBRYONNAIRE / DIFERENCIACION CELULAR / DIFFERENCIATION CELLULAIRE / DOUBLE STRANDED RNA / Drosophila / Drosophila - embryology / Drosophila - genetics / DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER / Drosophila Proteins / drug effects / embryo (animal) / Embryo, Nonmammalian / Embryo, Nonmammalian - drug effects / Embryo, Nonmammalian - physiology / embryogenesis / embryology / Embryonic cells / EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT / Embryonic Induction / Embryos / EXPRESION GENICA / EXPRESSION DES GENES / Female / GENE / GENE EXPRESSION / Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / GENES / GENETIC REGULATION / GENETICA / GENETICS / GENETIQUE / INHIBICION / INHIBITION / INJECTION / Insect Proteins / Insect Proteins - genetics / Insect Proteins - metabolism / Insects / INYECCION / Larva / metabolism / MUSCLE / muscle development / Muscle Proteins / MUSCLES / Muscles - embryology / Muscular system / MUSCULOS / Mutagenesis / MYOGENESIS / NAUTILUS GENE / Neuroglia / pharmacology / Phenotype / Phenotypes / physiology / Prenatal development / Ribonucleic acid / RNA / RNA interference / RNA, Antisense / RNA, Antisense - pharmacology / RNA, Double-Stranded / RNA, Double-Stranded - genetics / Toxins / Transcription Factors / TRANSGENIC ANIMALS