The Tracking of Intercellular Small RNA Movement

Abstract

RNA silencing is a regulatory mechanism that controls the expression of endogenous genes and exogenous molecular parasites such as viruses, transgenes, and transposable elements. The sequence specificity of these processes relies on small noncoding RNA (sRNA) molecules. In plants, one of the most fascinating aspects of RNA silencing is its mobile nature, in other words its ability to spread from the cell where it has been initiated to neighboring cells, through movement of sRNA molecules. To study this process, a key step is to directly monitor the spread of these nucleic acid species. Here we describe how this can be achieved through biolistic delivery of fluorescently labeled siRNA.