Evaluation and application of a luciferase fusion system for rapid in vivo analysis of RNAi targets and constructs in plants.

The practical use of RNA-mediated approaches including antisense RNA, ribozymes and siRNAs for specific inhibition of gene expression is limited by lack of simple quantitative methods to rapidly test efficacy in vivo. There have been indications that cotransfer of target::reporter gene fusions with constructs designed against the target sequence, followed by quantification of transient reporter gene activity might be effective. Here, we report detailed testing of the approach in plants, using diverse target::luciferase fusions and antisense or ribozyme constructs.