Design and expression of chimeric U1/ribozyme transgenes.

Roger Abounader, Robert Montgomery, Harry Dietz, John Laterra

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

The U1snRNA/ribozyme/antisense construct (designated U1/ribozyme) is a chimeric transgene that has proven to be very useful for inhibiting the expression of targeted genes in vitro and in vivo. It consists of a combination of hammerhead ribozyme flanked by target-specific antisense sequences that are in turn flanked by the loops and promoter of U1 snRNA. To construct U1/ribozymes, antisense/ribozyme sequences are first designed corresponding to ribozyme-cleavage consensus "GUC" sequences that are present in the targeted mRNA. Antisense/ribozyme sequences are then inserted between the U1 snRNA loops, and the conceptual secondary structure of the encoded regulatory RNA is analyzed to ensure proper folding. Appropriate antisense/ribozymes are then synthesized as oligonucleotides, annealed, and ligated into the pU1 vector containing the U1 snRNA promoter and loops to yield the pU1/ribozyme expression vector. Constructs can then be transiently or stably expressed in vitro and in vivo to inhibit the expression of target genes. U1/ribozymes can also be expressed in viral vectors for more efficient transfection, or complexed to liposomes for systemic delivery.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)209-219
Number of pages11
JournalMethods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)
Volume252
DOIs
StatePublished - 2004

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Design and expression of chimeric U1/ribozyme transgenes.'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this