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Antisense RNA inhibition of polygalacturonase gene expression in transgenic tomatoes

Nature volume 334, pages 724–726 (1988)Cite this article

Abstract

Regulation of expression of specific genes by antisense RNA is a naturally occurring mechanism in bacteria1,2, although gene regulation by this mechanism has not yet been observed in higher eukaryotes. However, antisense RNA has been shown to reduce expression of specific genes when injected into frog oocytes3 and Drosophila embryos4. Inhibition of expression of artificially introduced genes has been demonstrated by transient expression of antisense RNA constructs in mammalian cells5,6, and plant protoplasts7, and by stable expression in transgenic plants8. Here, we report a striking inhibition of expression of the endogenous, developmentally regulated gene for polygalacturonase in stably transformed tomato expressing antisense RNA.

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Author notes

  1. W. Schuch: To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Environmental Science, University of Nottingham, Faculty of Agricultural Science, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, UK

    C. J. S. Smith, C. F. Watson, P. C. Morris & D. Grierson

  2. ICI Seeds, Plant Biotechnology Section, The Heath, PO Box 11, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 4QE, UK

    J. Ray, C. R. Bird, W. Schuch & D. Grierson

Authors
  1. C. J. S. Smith
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  2. C. F. Watson
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  3. J. Ray
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  4. C. R. Bird
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  5. P. C. Morris
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  6. W. Schuch
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  7. D. Grierson
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Smith, C., Watson, C., Ray, J. et al. Antisense RNA inhibition of polygalacturonase gene expression in transgenic tomatoes. Nature 334, 724–726 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/334724a0

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