Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) spreads systemically in plants and nematodes to silence gene expression distant from the site of initiation. We previously identified a gene, sid-1, essential for systemic but not cell-autonomous RNAi in Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, we demonstrate that SID-1 is a multispan transmembrane protein that sensitizes Drosophila cells to soaking RNAi with a potency that is dependent on double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) length. Further analyses revealed that SID-1 enables passive cellular uptake of dsRNA. These data indicate that systemic RNAi in C. elegans involves SID-1-mediated intercellular transport of dsRNA.
Publication types
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
-
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
MeSH terms
-
Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
-
Animals
-
Biological Transport
-
Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics*
-
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / chemistry
-
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism*
-
Cell Line
-
Diffusion
-
Drosophila
-
Membrane Proteins / chemistry
-
Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
-
RNA Interference*
-
RNA, Double-Stranded / chemistry
-
RNA, Double-Stranded / genetics
-
RNA, Double-Stranded / metabolism*
-
Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
-
Transfection
Substances
-
Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
-
Membrane Proteins
-
RNA, Double-Stranded
-
Recombinant Proteins
-
SID-1 protein, C elegans
-
Adenosine Triphosphate