RNAi Experiments in Mouse Oocytes and Early Embryos
- Petr Svoboda1,3 and
- Paula Stein2,3
- 1Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic
- 2Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- ↵3Corresponding authors (svobodap{at}img.cas.cz and steinpau{at}sas.upenn.edu)
INTRODUCTION
The discovery of RNA interference (RNAi) in 1998 ushered in a new era in biology. RNAi currently serves as a favorite approach for inhibition of gene function in many areas of research. This article provides a brief review of RNAi and discussion of the benefits and drawbacks of using long double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in mammalian oocytes and early embryos. We also provide an introduction to protocols for RNAi experiments in mouse, including preparation and microinjection of dsRNA into mouse oocytes and early embryos, and preparation and testing of constructs for transgenic RNAi based on long hairpin RNA expression.
