RNA interference inCaenorhabditis elegans: Uptake, mechanism, and regulation

Abstract

RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful research tool that has enabled molecular insights into gene activity, pathway analysis, partial loss-of-function phenotypes, and large-scale genomic discovery of gene function. While RNAi works extremely well in the non-parasitic nematode C. elegans, it is also especially useful in organisms that lack facile genetic analysis. Extensive genetic analysis of the mechanisms, delivery and regulation of RNAi in C. elegans has provided mechanistic and phenomenological insights into why RNAi is so effective in this species. These insights are useful for the testing and development of RNAi in other nematodes, including parasitic nematodes where more effective RNAi would be extremely useful. Here, we review the current advances in C. elegans for RNA delivery methods, regulation of cell autonomous and systemic RNAi phenomena, and implications of enhanced RNAi mutants. These discussions, with a focus on mechanism and cross-species application, provide new perspectives for optimizing RNAi in other species.

RNA interference in Pratylenchus coffeae: Knock down of Pc-pat-10 and Pc-unc-87 impedes migration

“…It has been experimentally proven that the high efficiency of RNAi in C. elegans is mainly because of the amplification of primary silencing signals by an RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) encoded by rrf-1 [44] and the systemic nature of the RNAi. Thus, in the case of C. elegans a small amount of dsRNA trigger can result in profound silencing in the treated nematode as well as its progeny [45][46][47]. However it has been shown that the accumulation of siRNA is negatively regulated by eri-1, a nuclease with siRNAse activity and also by rrf-3, another putative RdRP found in C. elegans [48,49].…”

RNAi pathways in the recognition of foreign RNA: antiviral responses and host–parasite interactions in nematodes

“…elegans can mount RNAi responses to dsRNA (doublestranded RNA) originating either transcribed from its own genome (endo-RNAi) or from triggers derived independently of its own genome (exo-RNAi). Both pathways in C. elegans have been well characterized (for a recent review, see [1]). Notably, the C. elegans RNAi pathway displays several features that are unusual with regard to a number of other model organisms.…”

Caenorhabditis elegans: An Emerging Model System for Pesticide Neurotoxicity

“…This technique involves the introduction of exogenous RNA to complement endogenous RNA, which then "interferes" with the translation of the target gene. The silencing of this expression potentially helps the scientific community better understand the function of the gene's product [16][17][18]. Extensive experimentation with C. elegans has produced complete neuronal and developmental wiring diagrams that have been confirmed by numerous labs [3,19].…”