PUBLICATION

Microinjection of mRNA and morpholino antisense oligonucleotides in zebrafish embryos

Authors
Yuan, S., and Sun, Z.
ID
ZDB-PUB-090616-13
Date
2009
Source
Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE   (27): (Journal)
Registered Authors
Sun, Zhaoxia, Yuan, Shiaulou
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics
  • Microinjections/methods*
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence/methods
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense/administration & dosage*
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense/genetics
  • RNA, Messenger/administration & dosage*
  • RNA, Messenger/genetics
  • Zebrafish/embryology*
  • Zebrafish/genetics*
PubMed
19488022 Full text @ J. Vis. Exp.
Abstract
An essential tool for investigating the role of a gene during development is the ability to perform gene knockdown, overexpression, and misexpression studies. In zebrafish (Danio rerio), microinjection of RNA, DNA, proteins, antisense oligonucleotides and other small molecules into the developing embryo provides researchers a quick and robust assay for exploring gene function in vivo. In this video-article, we will demonstrate how to prepare and microinject in vitro synthesized EGFP mRNA and a translational-blocking morpholino oligo against pkd2, a gene associated with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), into 1-cell stage zebrafish embryos. We will then analyze the success of the mRNA and morpholino microinjections by verifying GFP expression and phenotype analysis. Broad applications of this technique include generating transgenic animals and germ-line chimeras, cell-fate mapping and gene screening. Herein we describe a protocol for overexpression of EGFP and knockdown of pkd2 by mRNA and morpholino oligonucleotide injection.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping