Skip to main content

Transient RNAi Assay in 96-Well Plate Format Facilitates High-Throughput Gene Function Studies in Planta

  • Protocol
  • First Online:
High-Throughput Phenotyping in Plants

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 918))

  • 2440 Accesses

Abstract

Here we describe a rapid high-throughput method for performing RNA interference (RNAi) in moss, in which phenotyping is performed within 1 week after transformation. The moss Physcomitrella patens is a great plant model system for reverse genetic studies due to its amenability to homologous recombination as well as RNAi. Our lab has developed a rapid RNAi assay to screen for growth phenotypes in moss protonemal tissue. Here we describe how we have recently further facilitated this assay by modifying the PEG-mediated transformation protocol allowing for transformations to be carried out in a semiautomated fashion in a 96-well plate format.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Protocol
USD 49.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Kamath RS et al (2003) Systematic functional analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans genome using RNAi. Nature 421:231–237

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Goshima G et al (2007) Genes required for mitotic spindle assembly in Drosophila S2 cells. Science 316:417–421

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Wheeler DB et al (2004) RNAi living-cell microarrays for loss-of-function screens in Drosophila melanogaster cells. Nat Meth 1:127–132

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Boutros M, Ahringer J (2008) The art and design of genetic screens: RNA interference. Nat Rev Genet 9:554–566

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Collinet C et al (2010) Systems survey of endocytosis by multiparametric image analysis. Nature 464:243–249

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Cove D et al (2006) Mosses as model systems for the study of metabolism and development. Annu Rev Plant Biol 57:497–520

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Bezanilla M et al (2003) RNA interference in the moss Physcomitrella patens. Plant Physiol 133:470–474

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Bezanilla M et al (2005) An RNAi system in Physcomitrella patens with an internal marker for silencing allows for rapid identification of loss of function phenotypes. Plant Biol 7:251–257

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Vidali L et al (2009) Rapid formin-mediated actin-filament elongation is essential for polarized plant cell growth. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 106:13341–13346

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Vidali L et al (2007) Profilin is essential for tip growth in the moss Physcomitrella patens. Plant Cell 19:3705–3722

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Augustine RC et al (2008) Actin depolymerizing factor is essential for viability in plants, and its phosphoregulation is important for tip growth. Plant J 54:863–875

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Schaefer D et al (1991) Stable transformation of the moss Physcomitrella patens. Mol Gen Genet 226:418–424

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Lawrence Winship for building the temperature control systems. We thank Paula Franco and Luis Vidali for initiating the project and David O’Donnell for performing pilot screens. We are grateful to members of the Bezanilla, Baskin and Hepler labs for helpful suggestions and recommendations. This work was supported by a fellowship from the David and Lucille Packard Foundation to (MB) and the University of Massachusetts – Amherst Plant Biology Graduate Program (SW).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Magdalena Bezanilla .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this protocol

Cite this protocol

Wu, SZ., Bezanilla, M. (2012). Transient RNAi Assay in 96-Well Plate Format Facilitates High-Throughput Gene Function Studies in Planta. In: Normanly, J. (eds) High-Throughput Phenotyping in Plants. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 918. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-995-2_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-995-2_17

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-994-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-995-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

Publish with us

Policies and ethics