A multifunctional lentiviral-based gene knockdown with concurrent rescue that controls for off-target effects of RNAi

Y Feng, L Nie, MD Thakur, Q Su, Z Chi… - Genomics …, 2010 - academic.oup.com
Y Feng, L Nie, MD Thakur, Q Su, Z Chi, Y Zhao, GD Longmore
Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics, 2010academic.oup.com
The efficient, stable delivery of siRNA into cells, and the appropriate controls for non-specific
off-target effects of siRNA are major limitations to functional studies using siRNA technology.
To overcome these drawbacks, we have developed a single lentiviral vector that can
concurrently deplete endogenous gene expression while expressing an epitope-tagged
siRNA-resistant target gene in the same cell. To demonstrate the functional utility of this
system, we performed RNAi-depleted α-actinin-1 (α-ACTN1) expression in human T cells. α …
Abstract
The efficient, stable delivery of siRNA into cells, and the appropriate controls for non-specific off-target effects of siRNA are major limitations to functional studies using siRNA technology. To overcome these drawbacks, we have developed a single lentiviral vector that can concurrently deplete endogenous gene expression while expressing an epitope-tagged siRNA-resistant target gene in the same cell. To demonstrate the functional utility of this system, we performed RNAi-depleted α-actinin-1 (α-ACTN1) expression in human T cells. α-ACTN1 RNAi resulted in inhibited chemotaxis to SDF-1α, but it can be completely rescued by concurrent expression of RNAi-resistant α-ACTN1 (rr-α-ACTN1) in the same cell. The presence of a GFP tag on rr-α-ACTN1 allowed for detection of appropriate subcellular localization of rr-α-ACTN1. This system provides not only an internal control for RNAi off-target effects, but also the potential tool for rapid structure-function analyses and gene therapy.
Oxford University Press