Name: rnai mediated gene knockdown and transgenesis by microinjection in the necromenic nematode pristionchus pacificus
Uploaded: 2011-10-16T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about RNAi Mediated Gene Knockdown and Transgenesis by Microinjection in the Necromenic Nematode Pristionchus pacificus at JoVE.com

The authors are very grateful to RJ Sommer and X Wang for assistance with microinjection, as well as insightful comments from the anonymous reviewers. This work is supported by NIH grant SC2GM089602.

1. Transgenesis: DNA preparation
<ol>
 <li>Dominant co-injection marker: pRL3 [Ppa-prl-1(tu92)] 
 The pRL3 plasmid is a dominant co-injection marker for visually identifying successful transformation events. This plasmid encodes for a dominant mutant allele (tu92) of the Ppa-prl-1 gene closely related to the sqt-1 collagen gene in C. elegans and transforms the wildtype sinusoidal locomotion into clockwise twisting motions along the worm's body axis<sup...

<ol>
	<li>Fire, A., Xu, S., Montgomery, M. K., Kostas, S. A., Driver, S. E., Mello, C. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Potent+and+specific+genetic+interference+by+double-stranded+RNA+in+Caenorhabditis+elegans.">Potent and specific genetic interference by double-stranded RNA in Caenorhabditis elegans.</a> Nature. 391, 806-811 (1998).</li><li>Ahringer, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reverse+Genetics.">Reverse Genetics.</a> Wormbook. , (2006).</li><li>Mello, C. C., Kramer, J. M., Stinchcomb, D., Ambros, V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Efficient+gene+transfer+in+C.+elegans:+extrachromosomal+maintenance+and+integration+of+transforming+sequences.">Efficient gene transfer in C. elegans: extrachromosomal maintenance and integration of transforming sequences.</a> EMBO J. 10, 3959-3970 (1991).</li><li>Junio, A. J., Li, X., Massery, H. C., Nolan, T. J., Lamitina, S. T., Sundaram, M. V., Lok, J. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Strongyloides+stercoralis:+cell-+and+tissue-specific+transgene+expression+and+co-transformation+with+vector+constructs+incorporating+a+common+multifunctional+3'+UTR.">Strongyloides stercoralis: cell- and tissue-specific transgene expression and co-transformation with vector constructs incorporating a common multifunctional 3' UTR.</a> Exp. Parasitology. 118, 253-265 (2008).</li><li>Schlager, B., Wang, X., Braach, G., Sommer, R. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Molecular+cloning+of+a+dominant+roller+mutant+and+establishment+of+DNA-mediated+transformation+in+the+nematode+Pristionchus+pacificus.">Molecular cloning of a dominant roller mutant and establishment of DNA-mediated transformation in the nematode Pristionchus pacificus.</a> Genesis. 47, 300-304 (2009).</li><li>Hong, R. L., Sommer, R. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pristionchus+pacificus:+a+well-rounded+nematode.">Pristionchus pacificus: a well-rounded nematode.</a> Bioessays. 28, 651-659 (2006).</li><li>Hong, R. L., Sommer, R. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chemoattraction+in+Pristionchus+nematodes+and+implications+for+insect+recognition.">Chemoattraction in Pristionchus nematodes and implications for insect recognition.</a> Curr. Biol. 16, 2359-2365 (2006).</li><li>Rudel, D., Riebesell, M., Sommer, R. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Gonadogenesis+in+Pristionchus+pacificus+and+organ+evolution:+development,+adult+morphology+and+cell-cell+interactions+in+the+hermaphrodite+gonad.">Gonadogenesis in Pristionchus pacificus and organ evolution: development, adult morphology and cell-cell interactions in the hermaphrodite gonad.</a> Dev. Biol. 277, 200-221 (2005).</li><li>Chalfie, M., Tu, Y., Euskirchen, G., Ward, W. W., Prasher, D. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Green+fluorescent+protein+as+a+marker+for+gene+expression.">Green fluorescent protein as a marker for gene expression.</a> Science. 11, 802-805 (1994).</li><li>Chaudhuri, J., Parihar, M., Pires-daSilva, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+Introduction+to+Worm+Lab:+from+Culturing+Worms+to+Mutagenesis.">An Introduction to Worm Lab: from Culturing Worms to Mutagenesis.</a> J. Vis. Exp. (47), e2293-e2293 (2011).</li><li>Evans, T. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transformation+and+Microinjection.">Transformation and Microinjection.</a> Wormbook. , (2006).</li></ol>

P. pacificus populations are found in close association with various scarab beetle species worldwide and is a model nematode intermediate between free living and parasitic nematodes. The strength of the P. pacificus as an emerging model organism lay in the integration of its genetic and physical maps that promote positional mapping of mutants isolated from unbiased forward genetic screens (i.e. not just for candidate genes previously characterized in C. elegans)6,10. However...

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<tr>
	<th>Product:</th>
	<th>Catalog #:</th>
	<th>Supplier:</th>
</tr>
<tr>
	<td>DMI3000 Injection microscope		</td>
	<td>DMI3000</td>
	<td>Leica</td>
</tr>
<tr>
	<td>Microinjector manipulator (Direct drive)		</td>
	<td>Narashige BC-3 Ball joint</td>
	<td>Tritech Research</td>
</tr>
<tr>
	<td>Needle Puller		</td>
	<td>Narashige PC-10</td>
	<td>Tritech Research</td>
</tr>
<tr>
	<td>MicroInjector&trade; All-Digital Multi-pressure System		</td>
	<td>Narashige MINJ-D</td>
	<td>Tritech Research</td>
</tr>
<tr>
	<td>GeneElute&trade;Mammalian Genomic DNA Miniprep Kit 		</td>
	<td>G1N70</td>
	<td>Sigma</td>
</tr>
<tr>
	<td>pJet Cloning Jet kit		</td>
	<td>K1231</td>
	<td>Fermentas</td>
</tr>
<tr>
	<td>GeneJET plasmid Miniprep kit		</td>
	<td>K0502</td>
	<td>Fermentas</td>
</tr>
<tr>
	<td>DNA Clean &amp; Concentrator&trade;		</td>
	<td>D4005</td>
	<td>ZYMO Research</td>
</tr>
<tr>
	<td>BLOCK-IT&trade; RNAi TOPO&reg; transcription kit		</td>
	<td>K3500-01 &amp; K3650-01</td>
	<td>Invitrogen</td>
</tr>
<tr>
	<td>Difco&trade;Agar Noble	</td>
	<td>DF0142-15-2	</td>
	<td>Fisher Scientifi</td>
</tr>
<tr>
	<td>Microscope cover glass (1.5 - 0.16 to 0.19mm thick; Size: 50 x 45mm)</td>
	<td>12-554-F</td>
	<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
</tr>
<tr>
	<td>Glass capillaries (filament)</td>
	<td>615000</td>
	<td>A-M systems</td>
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	<td>Paraffin Oil (Heavy)		</td>
	<td>O122-1</td>
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	<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
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	<td>AC20651-5000</td>
	<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
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	<td>BP3581</td>
	<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
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	<td>MgSO4		</td>
	<td>M80-500</td>
	<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
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</tbody>
</table>

rnai mediated gene knockdown and transgenesis by microinjection in the necromenic nematode pristionchus pacificus

Although it is increasingly affordable for emerging model organisms to obtain completely sequenced genomes, further in-depth gene function and expression analyses by RNA interference and stable transgenesis remain limited in many species due to the particular anatomy and molecular cellular biology of the organism. For example, outside of the crown group Caenorhabditis that includes Caenorhabditis elegans3, stably transmitted transgenic lines in non-Caenorhabditis species have not been reported in this specious phylum (Nematoda), with the exception of Strongyloides stercoralis4 and Pristionchus pacificus5. To facilitate the expanding role of P. pacificus in the study of development, evolution, and behavior6-7, we describe here the current methods to use microinjection for making transgenic animals and gene knock down by RNAi. Like the gonads of C. elegans and most other nematodes, the gonads of P. pacificus is syncitial and capable of incorporating DNA and RNA into the oocytes when delivered by direct microinjection. Unlike C. elegans however, stable transgene inheritance and somatic expression in P. pacificus requires the addition of self genomic DNA digested with endonucleases complementary to the ends of target transgenes and coinjection markers5. The addition of carrier genomic DNA is similar to the requirement for transgene expression in Strongyloides stercoralis4 and in the germ cells of C. elegans. However, it is not clear if the specific requirement for the animals' own genomic DNA is because P. pacificus soma is very efficient at silencing non-complex multi-copy genes or that extrachromosomal arrays in P. pacificus require genomic sequences for proper kinetochore assembly during mitosis. The ventral migration of the two-armed (didelphic) gonads in hermaphrodites further complicates the ability to inject both gonads in individual worms8. We also demonstrate the use of microinjection to knockdown a dominant mutant (roller,tu92) by injecting double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into the gonads to obtain non-rolling F1 progeny. Unlike C. elegans, but like most other nematodes, P. pacificus PS312 is not receptive to systemic RNAi via feeding and soaking and therefore dsRNA must be administered by microinjection into the syncitial gonads. In this current study, we hope to describe the microinjection process needed to transform a Ppa-egl-4 promoter::GFP fusion reporter and knockdown a dominant roller prl-1 (tu92) mutant in a visually informative protocol.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about RNAi Mediated Gene Knockdown and Transgenesis by Microinjection in the Necromenic Nematode Pristionchus pacificus at JoVE.com

RNAi Mediated Gene Knockdown and Transgenesis by Microinjection in the Necromenic Nematode Pristionchus pacificus

In model organisms, transgenesis can manipulate gene functions while RNAi can knockdown specific mRNA transcripts 1-2. This protocol aims to illustrate the techniques needed to introduce stably transmitted DNA and transient double stranded RNA into the necromenic nematode Pristionchus pacificus for studies in evolutionary, developmental, and behavioral biology.

RNAi Mediated Gene Knockdown and Transgenesis by Microinjection in the Necromenic Nematode Pristionchus pacificus

Although it is increasingly affordable for emerging model organisms to obtain completely sequenced genomes, further in-depth gene function and expression ...

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