Virus-Induced Gene Silencing, a Post Transcriptional Gene Silencing Method. (19th May 2009)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Unver, Turgay; Budak, Hikmet
• Other Names: Liu Chunji Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: International journal of plant genomics. Volume 2009(2009)
• Publication Date: 2009-05-19
• Subjects: Plant genetics -- Periodicals; Plant genomes -- Periodicals; Génétique végétale; Plantes -- Génomes; Plant genetics; Plant genomes; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 572.8605
• DOI: 10.1155/2009/198680
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1687-5370

Abstract

Abstract : Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is one of the reverse genetics tools for analysis of gene function that uses viral vectors carrying a target gene fragment to produce dsRNA which trigger RNA-mediated gene silencing. There are a number of viruses which have been modified to silence the gene of interest effectively with a sequence-specific manner. Therefore, different types of methodologies have been advanced and modified for VIGS approach. Virus-derived inoculations are performed on host plants using different methods such as agro-infiltration and in vitro transcriptions. VIGS has many advantages compared to other loss-of-gene function approaches. The approach provides the generation of rapid phenotype and no need for plant transformation. The cost of VIGS experiment is relatively low, and large-scale analysis of screening studies can be achieved by the VIGS. However, there are still limitations of VIGS to be overcome. Nowadays, many virus-derived vectors are optimized to silence more than one host plant such as TRV-derived viral vectors which are used for Arabidopsis and Nicothiana benthamiana . By development of viral silencing systems monocot plants can also be targeted as silencing host in addition to dicotyledonous plants. For instance, Barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV)-mediated VIGS allows silencing of barley and wheat genes. Here we summarize current protocols and recent modified viral systems to lead silencing of genes in different host species.