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siRNA as a molecular tool for use in Aspergillus niger

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Abstract

Gene silencing using siRNA has been examined in the industrially-important fungus, Aspergillus niger. Protoplasts of an A. niger strain containing a single genomic copy of the Escherichia coli uidA gene, encoding β-glucuronidase (GUS), under control of the A. niger glaA promoter at the same genomic locus, were exposed to siRNA targeted against the uidA gene. Down-regulation of uidA mRNA and GUS activity by siRNA was observed in mycelia that developed from the protoplasts. The down-regulation was transient and was not carried over to conidiation. We concluded that gene silencing by siRNA provides a relatively quick method for analysis of gene function in A. niger.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the financial support of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council through the Exploiting Genomics Programme.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biology, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK

    Sally E. Barnes & David B. Archer

  2. School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leistershire, LE12 5RD, UK

    Marcos J. C. Alcocer

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  1. Sally E. Barnes
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  2. Marcos J. C. Alcocer
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  3. David B. Archer
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Correspondence to David B. Archer.

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Barnes, S.E., Alcocer, M.J.C. & Archer, D.B. siRNA as a molecular tool for use in Aspergillus niger . Biotechnol Lett 30, 885–890 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-007-9614-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-007-9614-0

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