Injection of Reversible Optically Controlled Short Interfering RNA into Japanese Medaka Embryos () to Regulate Gene Silencing.

Photoswitchable -functionalized tetrafluorinated azobenzene-modified siRNAs (F-azo-siRNAs) were synthesized using solid-phase phosphoramidite chemistry. The activity of an F-azo-siRNA targeting enhanced green fluorescence protein (eGFP) in transgenic (Tg) Japanese Medaka () was reversibly photocontrolled with blue (470 nm) and green (530 nm) light, to activate and inactivate the siRNA, respectively. This study highlights the first reversible study with photoswitchable siRNA. Controlling siRNA function reversibly could open new opportunities for biotech research to better understand gene function and cellular mechanisms.