scholarly journals Development and Application of a Green Fluorescent Protein Sentinel System for Identification of RNA Interference in Blastomyces dermatitidis Illuminates the Role of Septin in Morphogenesis and Sporulation

2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. 1299-1309 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Krajaejun ◽  
G. M. Gauthier ◽  
C. A. Rappleye ◽  
T. D. Sullivan ◽  
B. S. Klein
Keyword(s):  
Green Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Rna Interference ◽  
Gene Silencing ◽  
Rapid Detection ◽  
Target Gene ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Blastomyces Dermatitidis ◽  
Dimorphic Fungus ◽  
Green Fluorescent

ABSTRACT A high-throughput strategy for testing gene function would accelerate progress in our understanding of disease pathogenesis for the dimorphic fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis, whose genome is being completed. We developed a green fluorescent protein (GFP) sentinel system of gene silencing to rapidly study genes of unknown function. Using Gateway technology to efficiently generate RNA interference plasmids, we cloned a target gene, “X,” next to GFP to create one hairpin to knock down the expression of both genes so that diminished GFP reports target gene expression. To test this approach in B. dermatitidis, we first used LACZ and the virulence gene BAD1 as targets. The level of GFP reliably reported interference of their expression, leading to rapid detection of gene-silenced transformants. We next investigated a previously unstudied gene encoding septin and explored its possible role in morphogenesis and sporulation. A CDC11 septin homolog in B. dermatitidis localized to the neck of budding yeast cells. CDC11-silenced transformants identified with the sentinel system grew slowly as flat or rough colonies on agar. Microscopically, they formed ballooned, distorted yeast cells that failed to bud, and they sporulated poorly as mold. Hence, this GFP sentinel system enables rapid detection of gene silencing and has revealed a pronounced role for septin in morphogenesis, budding, and sporulation of B. dermatitidis.

scholarly journals Non-Target Effects of Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)-Derived Double-Stranded RNA (dsRNA-GFP) Used in Honey Bee RNA Interference (RNAi) Assays

Insects ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis Nunes ◽  
Aline Aleixo ◽  
Angel Barchuk ◽  
Ana Bomtorin ◽  
Christina Grozinger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Green Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Rna Interference ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Double Stranded Rna ◽  
Green Fluorescent ◽  
Target Effects

scholarly journals Labeling of peroxisomes with green fluorescent protein in living P. pastoris cells.

1996 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 581-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Z Monosov ◽  
T J Wenzel ◽  
G H Lüers ◽  
J A Heyman ◽  
S Subramani
Keyword(s):  
Green Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Fusion Protein ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Uv Light ◽  
Alcohol Oxidase ◽  
Methylotrophic Yeast ◽  
Ultrastructural Localization ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Fluorescent Properties ◽  
Green Fluorescent

We exploited the light-activated fluorescent properties of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) of the jellyfish Aequorea victoria for studies on the peroxisomal sorting of polypeptides. GFP and GFP-SKL (containing a C-terminal, tripeptide peroxisomal targeting signal, SKL) were expressed from a methanol-inducible, alcohol oxidase (AOX1) promoter in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. GFP was cytosolic, whereas the GFP-SKL fusion protein was targeted to peroxisomes, as demonstrated by biochemical fractionation of organelles on Nycodenz gradients. Neither GFP nor GFP-SKL affected the viability of yeast cells but both were fluorescent on excitation with 395-nm UV light. The subcellular locations of GFP and GFP-SKL in living yeast cells were monitored by fluorescence microscopy and their fluorescence was coupled to photo-oxidation of diaminobenzidine (DAB), resulting in the deposition of electron-dense oxidized DAB at intracellular locations of GFP derivatives. This photooxidation procedure permitted facile ultrastructural localization of GFP in cells by electron microscopy, and provided further evidence that GFP produced in P. pastoris is cytosolic, whereas GFP-SKL is peroxisomal. The GFP-SKL fusion protein is therefore a versatile reporter for the peroxisomal compartment, with many applications for studies involving peroxisomal import and biogenesis.

scholarly journals Identification of Restriction Factors by Human Genome-Wide RNA Interference Screening of Viral Host Range Mutants Exemplified by Discovery of SAMD9 and WDR6 as Inhibitors of the Vaccinia Virus K1L−C7L− Mutant

mBio ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilad Sivan ◽  
Pinar Ormanoglu ◽  
Eugen C. Buehler ◽  
Scott E. Martin ◽  
Bernard Moss
Keyword(s):  
Green Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Rna Interference ◽  
Vaccinia Virus ◽  
Host Range ◽  
Human Genome ◽  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Restriction Factors ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Green Fluorescent ◽  
Viral Host Range

ABSTRACTRNA interference (RNAi) screens intended to identify host factors that restrict virus replication may fail if the virus already counteracts host defense mechanisms. To overcome this limitation, we are investigating the use of viral host range mutants that exhibit impaired replication in nonpermissive cells. A vaccinia virus (VACV) mutant with a deletion of both the C7L and K1L genes, K1L−C7L−, which abrogates replication in human cells at a step prior to late gene expression, was chosen for this strategy. We carried out a human genome-wide small interfering RNA (siRNA) screen in HeLa cells infected with a VACV K1L−C7L−mutant that expresses the green fluorescent protein regulated by a late promoter. This positive-selection screen had remarkably low background levels and resulted in the identification of a few cellular genes, notably SAMD9 and WDR6, from approximately 20,000 tested that dramatically enhanced green fluorescent protein expression. Replication of the mutant virus was enabled by multiple siRNAs to SAMD9 or WDR6. Moreover, SAMD9 and WDR6 clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/Cas9 knockout HeLa cell lines were permissive for replication of the K1L−C7L−mutant, in agreement with the siRNA data. Expression of exogenous SAMD9 or interferon regulatory factor 1 restricted replication of the K1L−C7L−mutant in the SAMD9−/−cells. Independent interactions of SAMD9 with the K1 and C7 proteins were suggested by immunoprecipitation. Knockout of WDR6 did not reduce the levels of SAMD9 and interactions of WDR6 with SAMD9, C7, and K1 proteins were not detected, suggesting that these restriction factors act independently but possibly in the same innate defense pathway.IMPORTANCEThe coevolution of microbial pathogens with cells has led to an arms race in which the invader and host continuously struggle to gain the advantage. For this reason, traditional siRNA screens may fail to uncover important immune mechanisms if the pathogens have already developed effective responses. However, host-restricted viral mutants have lost one or more defense genes needed for their replication in nonpermissive cells. By screening human genome libraries of short RNAs that inhibit the expression of individual host genes in nonpermissive cells, we identified SAMD9 and WDR6 as major restriction factors that prevented replication of a vaccinia virus mutant and suggest that host range screening can be generally useful for the investigation of host-pathogen interactions.

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