Interfering with development (original) (raw)

Developmental genetics

Nature Reviews Genetics volume 4, page 852 (2003)Cite this article

When RNAi was first discovered, most thought that its main purpose was to act as a defence against viruses and transposition. However, increasing numbers of studies are showing that components of the RNAi machinery are involved in essential cell functions.

Using an in vivo recombination strategy, Hannon and colleagues targeted Dicer's first RNase III catalytic domain to render the enzyme inactive in mice. Indeed, the authors found that an equivalent mutant form of human DICER1 was unable to cleave siRNA precursors in tissue culture. The development of Dicer1−/− mice was arrested by the E7.5 stage. The absence of brachyury expression — a marker of the primitive streak — in Dicer1 −/− embryos indicates that the mutants arrest before the body plan is laid down during gastrulation.

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References

ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPERS

  1. Wienholds, E. et al. The microRNA-producing enzyme Dicer1 is essential for zebrafish development. Nature Genet. 5 October 2003 (10.1038/ng1253)
  2. Bernsten, E. et al. Dicer is essential for mouse development. Nature Genet. 5 October 2003 (10.1038/ng1251)

FURTHER READING

  1. Hannon, G. J. RNA interference. Nature 418, 244–251 (2002)
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  2. Houbaviy, H. B. et al. Embryonic stem cell-specific microRNAs. Dev. Cell 5, 351–358 (2003)
    Article CAS Google Scholar

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Skipper, M. Interfering with development.Nat Rev Genet 4, 852 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg1219

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