Increasing the efficiency of homologous recombination vector-mediated end joining repair by inhibition of Lig4 gene using siRNA in sheep embryo fibroblasts.

In animal cells, inhibition of non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway improves the efficiency of homologous recombination (HR)-mediated double-strand brakes (DSBs) repair. To improve the efficiency of HR in sheep embryo fibroblasts, the NHEJ key molecule DNA ligase 4 (Lig4) was suppressed by siRNA interference. Four pairs of siRNA targeting Lig4 were designed and chemically synthesized. These siRNA were electro-transferred into sheep embryo fibroblasts respectively. Compared with the control groups, two pairs of siRNA were identified to effectively inhibit the expression of sheep Lig4 gene by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. The plasmid rejoining assay was adopted for examining the efficiency of HR-mediated DSB repair. I-SceⅠ endonuclease linearized vector and siRNA were co-transfected into sheep embryo fibroblasts. Flow cytometry analysis of cells after transfection for 72 h showed that suppression of Lig4 using siRNAs increased the rejoining efficiency of HR vector by 3-4 times compared with the control groups. Therefore, enhanced HR vector rejoining frequency by instant inhabition of Lig4 gene provides theoretical basis for improving gene targeting efficiency of sheep embryo fibroblasts.