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. 2000 Dec;156(4):1717–1725. doi: 10.1093/genetics/156.4.1717

Specific genetic interference with behavioral rhythms in Drosophila by expression of inverted repeats.

S Martinek 1, M W Young 1
PMCID: PMC1461361  PMID: 11102368

Abstract

We describe a new experimental technique that allows for a tissue-specific reduction of gene activity in the Drosophila nervous system. On the basis of the observation that certain gene functions can be ubiquitously blocked by injecting double-stranded RNA into Drosophila embryos, we employed a method to interfere with an individual gene function permanently in a predetermined cell type. This was achieved by the formation of an inverted-repeat RNA sequence in the tissue of interest under control of the GAL4/UAS binary expression system. As an example, we show that inverted-repeat-mediated interference with the period gene produces a hypomorphic period phenotype. A selective decrease of period RNA appears to be a component of the cellular response.

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Selected References

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