One-step cloning of intron-containing hairpin RNA constructs for RNA interference via isothermal in vitro recombination system

Planta. 2013 Aug;238(2):325-30. doi: 10.1007/s00425-013-1896-y. Epub 2013 May 17.

Abstract

Hairpin RNA-based RNA interference (hpRNAi) has become a powerful tool for exploring gene function in reverse genetics. Although, several methods are available for making constructs that express hpRNAi, multiple time-consuming cloning steps are usually involved. Here, we introduce an efficient and flexible hpRNAi vector construction method via the isothermal in vitro recombination system (IR-hpRNAi). For an IR-hpRNAi reaction, two PCR products of a target gene sequence are generated, which containS complementary ends (~20 bp) to each other and to the ends of linearized vector, are fused in a way of head-to-head or tail-to-tail into the vector. This IR-hpRNAi method offers two options to construct the RNAi vectors. Using this method, we created a IR-hpRNAi construct for the Arabidopsis PDS3 gene,and verified the silencing effect via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The IR-hpRNAi system rules out the requirement of engineering restriction enzyme cutting sites in target DNA fragments, and is ligation-independent. Thus, this method has advantages over the other hpRNAi construction methods.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / genetics*
  • Arabidopsis / growth & development
  • Arabidopsis / radiation effects
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques / methods*
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics*
  • Introns / genetics
  • Light
  • Oxidoreductases / genetics*
  • Phenotype
  • Plant Leaves / genetics
  • Plant Leaves / growth & development
  • Plant Leaves / radiation effects
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Plant / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics*
  • Recombination, Genetic
  • Seedlings / genetics
  • Seedlings / growth & development
  • Seedlings / radiation effects

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • RNA, Plant
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Oxidoreductases
  • phytoene dehydrogenase