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Loss‐of‐function analyses of the fragile X‐related and dopamine receptor genes by RNA interference in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus
Author(s) -
Hamada Aska,
Miyawaki Katsuyuki,
HondaSumi Eri,
Tomioka Kenji,
Mito Taro,
Ohuchi Hideyo,
Noji Sumihare
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.22029
Subject(s) - gryllus bimaculatus , biology , cricket , rna interference , gene , phenotype , field cricket , fmr1 , genetics , dopamine , microbiology and biotechnology , function (biology) , rna , neuroscience , allele , zoology
In order to explore a possibility that the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus would be a useful model to unveil molecular mechanisms of human diseases, we performed loss‐of‐function analyses of Gryllus genes homologous to human genes that are responsible for human disorders, fragile X mental retardation 1 ( fmr1 ) and Dopamine receptor ( DopR ). We cloned cDNAs of their Gryllus homologues, Gb ' fmr1, Gb ' DopRI , and Gb ' DopRII , and analyzed their functions with use of nymphal RNA interference (RNAi). For Gb ' fmr1 , three major phenotypes were observed: (1) abnormal wing postures, (2) abnormal calling song, and (3) loss of the circadian locomotor rhythm, while for Gb ' DopRI , defects of wing posture and morphology were found. These results indicate that the cricket has the potential to become a novel model system to explore human neuronal pathogenic mechanisms and to screen therapeutic drugs by RNAi. Developmental Dynamics 238:2025–2033, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.