An accurate quantitative method for screening effective siRNA probes targeting a Hepatitis B virus transcript in single living cells

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2008 Mar 21;367(4):866-73. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.01.025. Epub 2008 Jan 15.

Abstract

A dual fluorescence reporter plasmid expressing EGFP and DsRed-Monomer from separate promoters was constructed for quantitative flow cytometry analysis. Cloning the hepatitis B virus (HBV) X gene into the 3' UTR region of DsRed-Monomer allowed quantifying the efficacy of ten siRNAs designed according to the accessibility of HBx mRNA measured in vitro. Using EGFP as an internal control, a justified calculation of the changed mean fluorescence intensity of DsRed-Monomer in each transfected cell yielded highly consistent results, and revealed all 10 siRNAs achieved over 50% inhibition among which a super effective siRNA achieved 88% inhibition at a very low concentration (0.33 microg/ml). This provides a quantification method critical for therapeutic application of siRNA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Flow Cytometry / methods*
  • Gene Targeting / methods*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • RNA Probes / genetics*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics*
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence / methods*
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transfection / methods
  • Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins / genetics*

Substances

  • RNA Probes
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
  • hepatitis B virus X protein